- The entire house was raised by 1.5 metres, to sit the living space well above the predicted 2 metre level of severe floodwaters
- Downstairs was retained as a utility space only, holding a garage and a laundry
- A polished concrete floor was laid downstairs, for ease of cleaning silt and floodwater
- "Single skin" walls (with no cavities) were installed downstairs, made out of water-resistant marine ply. Other materials used were selected for water resistance.
- Brisbane lily Proiphys cunninghamii. These large-leaved lillies occur in lightly shaded areas of the rainforest or in open forest bordering rainforest regions in the Brisbane area down to northern NSW. They grow from an underground bulb, which makes them perhaps adapted to flood events; if the top foliage is sheared off by strong waters they're set to regenerate from the well-anchored bulb
- Another bulb is one of Jerry's favourites. Crinum pendunculatum var asiaticum is native to SE Qld and up into Asia, and has what could be the largest bulb on the planet. But don't get it confused with the regular Crinums you see around; this is a super-sized relative! Enormous white flowers and long flesh leaves to 1.5 metres in length leave an impression, and the natural habitat of swamps and flooding gullies mean this heavyweight knows how to hang on in rough seas
- Banksia robur, the Swamp Banksia, occurs in swamps along the coast and nearby plateaus of New South Wales and Queensland. It's an open tree to large shrub to 2 metres, with large stiff leaves that are very tough. As the name suggests it thrives in damp, poorly drained conditions and will tolerate seasonal flooding.
- Even though they don't want edbiles, Jerry's brought along some lemongrass. Even when it's not used for eating it's a worthwhile ornamental plant, with fragrant clumps of foliage that love living in waterlogged conditions. If they decide they want to start using it in the kitchen, it's easy enough to break off a rhizome and start growing it safely in a pot.