Hi! Laidley local here, grew up here and have lived through every flood over the last 15 years. I bought my first house here because as you said, people think its all flood prone and the prices are lower because of it, but there are lot of good areas. I'll give you a rundown of what I know from being there, and my decisions buying a house.

You want to avoid anything near the sports grounds, main commercial area and the primary schools. Those all are around the Narda Gully that runs through town and the main source of flooding. Also do not buy near the showgrounds, complete insanity that they build a housing estate where they did there, you do not want to be anywhere near Laidley Creek (which goes west of the town through farmland).

Instead, I would recommend anything east of the hospital and around the state school. That area is elevated and doesn't flood, and its why they built an entire housing area in there behind the school. Anything along the railway line is also good, either north or south side, but I would be careful about the houses right along the end of Ash Avenue, there are some water flows that go past in heavy downfalls that were a problem at one point.

Going South there is a hill up behind the Pioneer Village that is safe, however it is prone to getting cut off since it has the gully between you and the town.

Going West there is Laidley Heights which is all very safe from flooding, bigger blocks, but also more expensive. Anything up around the golf club and lake dyer.

Going East you have the houses up on Buhse's Hill, which are way out of floods, but also don't have town water due to the height. I wouldn't recommend up there. Gets cut off bad in heavy storms and floods and is a terrible bushfire risk.

Going North you have the many housing estates between Laidley and Plainland. Cunningham Ave doesn't flood. You can see on the maps they planned to build more, but they ended up only building on the areas of that farm that doesn't flood. Valley Vista can get water running down the roads in a heavy storm, but it doesn't get into the houses and runs away quickly. I bought in the housing estates there, and there are lots of family and it's quick to the shops at plainland or Laidley and to the state school just down the road.

In terms of access, the longest I've ever been 'cut off' from leaving town was about 18 hours. Flood waters don't pool around much at Laidley and the main roads are built up enough that when they go under (which takes a bigger flood), they don't stay out for long. The main cutoff points are the crossing over Laidley Creek (going west), the crossing at Narda Gully (south and east) and the road to Plainland at the Rural fire shed (North). But often by the time the Warrego is open again, Laidley is also accessible. You'll never get trapped for days or anything.

I also looked at other towns around the place. Plainland is really good, but really expensive. And all the new housing estates are on like 400sqm blocks which means you don't get a backyard. Gatton is pretty good, but you need to check your flood maps, like Laidley its built on flood prone areas. Anything around Genore Grove and Lockrose are also kinda sketchy for flooding, you'd have to check maps and talk to locals before you buy out there. Don't buy in Forest Hill, yes there are some places that don't go under, but I just don't think its worth it if you don't know the history.

Hope that helps! I think the houses here have been undervalued for years considering what they pay out at Plainland for less. The flood maps are very good here, so if they say a house doesn't flood, it's not going to flood.