Regional Queensland towns, ravaged in last year’s floods and struggling to attract new residents, say Suncorp’s decision not to insure them unless they build more mitigation is exacerbating their troubles.

Suncorp Personal Insurance CEO Mark Milliner has written to the Maranoa Regional Council and Central Highlands Council to say they will not be offering home and contents insurance in Roma and Emerald unless more flood mitigation measures are built.

The mayors of each council have said the towns have already lost people who left after the floods and are worried Suncorp’s latest move will put off potential new residents from moving there.

Robert Loughnan, Mayor of Maranoa Regional Council – which takes in Roma – said it would only be a matter of time before other insurers followed Suncorp’s lead and the state’s largest insurer should be working with the town instead of punishing it.

‘‘We’ve got substantial steps underway already, we’ve already undertaken a study and we know what has to be done, we’ve spent a considerable amount of money already,’’ he said.