A WOMAN who lost her Redgate home of 24 years in the Margaret River bushfires has described the State Government’s compensation offer as a “complete and utter insult”.
Kane McDonald has called a meeting of those who lost homes and property in the November bushfires for 5.30pm tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss compensation.
The meeting will be at the Bushfire Recovery Hub in the Community Resource Centre, Tunbridge Street Margaret River.
Ms McDonald said the meeting was incorrectly publicised elsewhere as being at 6.30pm. She invited fire victims to bring a plate of food to share.
“I am suggesting all peoples affected by this outcome (the Keelty report of the special inquiry into the bushfires and the government’s response to it), come together, share email/mobile contact details and unite to discuss this current situation which we as a group/community must respond to,” she stated in an email to the Mail.
“This compensation package is a complete and utter insult. I feel we must voice our concerns to all relevant, particularly our State Government, in an absolute outcry of disgust as to what they estimate our material wealth to be valued at with this unacceptable compensation (and) with so few people taken into consideration.
“We have waited patiently for the Keelty report and it is now our turn to take our time to respond to these findings of DEC being held liable with no accountability, and not be rushed to finalise and sign off on the government’s offer. Of course it is leaving us no choice but to be involved in a class action.”
Ms McDonald said she had emailed Premier Colin Barnett and Emergency Services Minister Troy Buswell and had contacted “political parties” in an effort to have her views put to parliament.
“This fire has been a devastating blow for me on many levels and at this stage there is absolutely no way I will be able to afford to rebuild our family home, let alone furnish it or repair the 7.5 acres of fire-affected gardens and burnt-out forest resulting in current loss of value.”
Later, Ms McDonald said she only wanted people directly impacted by the fires to attend tomorrow’s meeting.
“We don’t want council staff, we don’t want DEC or anyone else there, please respect our wishes, just the people who lost property. We need out own time now to discuss this situation.”
Ms McDonald can also be contacted on 0406 544 848 by fire victims.
The State Government requires expressions of interest in compensation to be lodged with RiskCover, by August 31.
Up to $150,000 for established homes, $80,000 for homes under construction at lock-up stage and $50,000 for pre-lock-up stage houses will be available. Payment will only be made where the damage assessed is greater than the insurance paid out and claimants must provide evidence of insurance policies, claims and payments.
Maximums of $30,000 for home content; $15,000 for sheds, fences and other external structures; $10,000 for private motor vehicles and $5000 for site clean up and rubbish removal, and also for tools of trade used in employment, can be claimed.