Future insurance policies
AS we recover from the recent flooding, we must surely look about us, and our town, Kerang, and realise just how lucky we have been.
Without the foresight and lessons learnt, we should be thanking our lucky stars for the forward thinking in the erecting of the town levee following the 2011 floods.
It sure saved the town in very recent times.
I say “saved” tongue in cheek, for it took a lot more than a mound of soil to save us.
It could not have been effective without the tireless efforts of volunteers on the ground, the shire of Gannawarra, the fire brigade, the Brethren, Mawson’s, and myriad others who jumped in to assist.
Our sincere thanks go out to each and every one of you guys, and the ones I have overlooked … thanks so much from a member of a grateful community.
However, I do have a worry that I wish to share with you because it could impact on us all in the future, and I mean near future: our insurance policies.
Following the 2011 flood incident, our benevolent insurers looked at the local postcodes and declared virtually all within the boundaries as flood-prone (even some around Kangaroo Lake that were in the vicinity of 40 feet above the lake level).
After a lot of argy-bargy, sanity did eventually prevail.
With the recent flood, we see many towns devastated possibly beyond reclaiming.
I have heard instances of our benevolent guardians jacking up prices in the $2000 bracket to around $8000.
Okay, maybe we might be in a flood zone, but surely these people must realise that in the 2011 flood, the town was saved after a lot of volunteer input.
In 2022, we have had the benefit of a newer, higher, and more robust levee that surely saved us again.
I feel we should request the shire consider putting the maintenance of the levee in the ongoing maintenance program, with possibly provision for a relief break-away should such prove necessary.
Possibly a levee levy could be considered; there is already a fire levy in place.
Worth considering?
Neil Gannon
Kerang
