Landowners continue to wait for compensation more than a year after the devastating Lancefield-Cobaw bushfire, which claimed properties and possessions.
Fifty-six claims made through state government insurer Victorian Managed Insurance Authority have been settled, but 30 claims are still outstanding.
New Macedon Ranges councillor and Lancefield CFA president Henry Bleeck said the remaining 30 claimants were “the forgotten victims of the fire”. Cr Bleeck said some landowners had been left “high and dry”, and he called on the government to act urgently.
“I am aware of several people who still have compensation outstanding and, anecdotally, I have been told of a number of others,” he said.
“In the eyes of the government departments involved, they have quickly become the forgotten victims of this fire.
“It’s shameful that a year on, people who lost property and possessions, and in some cases had their livelihoods and peace of mind shattered by this fire, are still being stuffed around and left waiting to be reimbursed and compensated for their losses.”
“It’s just not good enough that they’ve been left high and dry.”
Cr Bleeck said the state government responded quickly and compassionately in the aftermath of the bushfire – but departmental bureaucrats were the ones dragging the chain.
“I call on the government to put pressure on its insurance agency to release the purse strings and pay the people who are entitled to reimbursement.”
Lancefield recovery case manager Dave Watson, of the environment, land, water and planning department, said in some cases the delay in reimbursement was because cases were complex … some landholders were struggling with recovery or had other priorities.
“If the landholders are prepared to progress the claims, we can progress those for them,” he said.
Mr Watson said each landholder had an insurance assessor, and he urged those claiming to work closely with the department.
“We hope that in the next six months or so, we can settle those claims,” he said.
