Lockdown putting thousands of homes at risk of bushfires
Serious concerns about the ability of Melburnians to prepare their regional holiday homes for bushfire season have been raised, with fears many won’t be insured if they can’t tend to their homes in time.
Victoria
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Melburnians unable to make their holiday homes bushfire-ready due to harsh lockdown rules have been urged to ask neighbours or local contactors for help.
Thousands of homes could be at risk of bushfire if action is not taken soon, with the Insurance Council of Australia urging Victorians to make sure they were covered correctly.
CFA acting chief officer Garry Cook said it was time for cleaning up, despite many people being unable to do the work themselves.
“The grass is starting to grow and now is the time for people to start taking action to clean up their properties and reduce the fuel loads before it gets too heavy and dries off,” Mr Cook said.
“Any opportunity that people have to get out and clean their properties up they should be doing.
“That’s a challenge of course with the COVID environment and we understand that some people at the moment may not be able to leave their property to do that.
“If they have the opportunity, get a local contractor in or even one of their neighbours … to mow their lawns or clean up their block.”
Mr Cook said with more rain predicted for parts of the state, the season was not looking as severe as last summer.
Some insurance policies require owners to visit within a specified time period to remain valid, but most insurers have tweaked their policies because of the pandemic.
“The industry is concerned about the ability of the owners to prepare their properties for bushfire season,” Insurance Council of Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said.
“The industry is also in discussions with governments about how best to clear the backlog of rebuilding and repair work from the last disaster season because of course COVID-19 has had an impact around how trades can repair properties and also about the available of materials which has certainly been curtailed quite dramatically.”
Goldstein MP Tim Wilson urged Victorians to contact their insurers to make sure they were covered.
“As we come up to bushfire season the need for maintenance and clearing is critical, and doubly so if there are questions about the validity of your insurance policy because you can’t visit to fulfil your obligations,” Mr Wilson said.
Daniel Andrews said those with second homes would be able to prepare for the bushfire season “as close to the normal timing as possible”.
“As soon as we’re in a position to update people we will but that’s still someway off. That’s not till October normally,” the Premier said.
GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR EASING RESTRICTIONS