Claims approach $30m
AS insurance claims nudge $30 million from the floods that ripped through southern Tasmania, the hardest hit suburbs have emerged.
Claims pouring into RACT insurance reveal that the municipality of Kingborough has suffered the biggest losses, with Blackmans Bay and Kingston topping the list.
Following Kingborough, the next highest number of claims has come from Hobart, particularly Sandy Bay.
RACT Insurance chief executive Trent Sayers said the flood and storm of May 10-11 had resulted in the largest volume of claims seen by the insurer in recent history.
So far 1700 claims have been lodged with the RACT, while the total number of claims to all insurers has risen to 4560.
The overall insurance bill so far has reached $29.6 million, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.
The council has announced forums for policyholders who have unresolved questions about the severe storm, which the organisation rated as a “catastrophe”.
The free forums are for insured householders and business owners who have lodged claims for damage caused by the storms, to focus on the claims management process.
Two forums will be held in June, with the first in the worst affected area in Kingston, followed by Hobart.
Members of the Insurance Council of Australia disaster recovery team and insurance company representatives will attend both forums.
A spokeswoman for the council said it was important that insurance policy holders lodged claims as soon as possible, so the claims could be worked through at the forums.
Mr Sayers said the RACT had 120 people continuing to work on claims resulting from the floods, including some extra staff flown down from interstate to help fast-track the assessments and repairs.
“They are working through the assessments, the cost and the clean-up,” he said.
“Although it can be a frustrating situation, everyone is working really well to get the job done.”
Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass said there were many people in the municipality continuing to suffer following the storm.
He said the deluge was one of the worst the area had ever seen, though climate change may result in more to come.
“Talking to some older people who live in the municipality, none of them can remember such a concentrated downpour over such a short period,” Cr Wass said.
Sections of Channel Court shopping centre at Kingston were flooded during the storm, and while Woolworths and Big W are now trading some shops remain closed.
The first Insurance Council forum will be held on June 13 in Kingston and the second on June 14 in Hobart, both from 7pm. Register by noon on June 13 at www.disasters.org.au/forums.