This link is to the Governments consultation process document - everybody’s chance to have their say.
http://www.treasury.gov.au/documents/2221/PDF/transparency_november2011.pdf
The closing date for submissions is 30th march, 2012.
Media releases
Press release from Sharman Stone Federal Liberal MP for Murray - this is the best explanation and advice :
Click here
Press release from Sharman Stone Federal Liberal MP for Murray - this is the best explanation and advice :
Click here
Thank you for linking to this page
May we make two suggestions ?
One : Spend a few moments on this page, open the links, particularly the press release from Sharman Stone Federal Liberal MP for Murray
Two : Contact your insurance company and ask them for a quote now, do not wait until your policy is due.
One : Spend a few moments on this page, open the links, particularly the press release from Sharman Stone Federal Liberal MP for Murray
Two : Contact your insurance company and ask them for a quote now, do not wait until your policy is due.
Flood Insurance - an Islander’s experience
contribution by Kate McKinnon and Jack Pearce
contribution by Kate McKinnon and Jack Pearce
The issue of flood insurance could be about to hit Raymond Islanders hard, as some of us have recently discovered.
In November 2011, the Federal Government released a Consultation paper entitled “Reforming flood insurance - a proposal to improve availability and transparency”. The closing date for submissions is 30 March 2012.
The thrust of the proposal is that all insurers be required to offer flood cover in home building and home contents insurance policies, while allowing consumers to ‘opt out’ of flood cover.
RACV Insurance has decided to ‘jump the gun’ and introduce compulsory flood insurance in all house and contents policies effective from 9 January 2012. It has also decided not to offer an ‘opt out’ option.
We received our renewal notice from RACV on Monday 9 January, and were horrified to see that our annual premium had increased from $650.30 to $3,767 - an increase of $3,117 or 480%.
The justification for this was that “Information has been collected on behalf of RACV that allows for individual properties throughout Victoria to be accurately assessed and priced for the risk of flood. Your property has been identified as being at risk of flooding and your premium includes this cost”. When we asked who had provided the information, they refused to tell us.
Among the points made in the Consultation Paper is the Government’s proposal to provide “a single access point to existing flood mapping data which will enable consumers and other interested parties to obtain information about flood risk.” The Government also plans to develop national guidelines to cover the collection, comparability and reporting of flood risk information. Neither of these initiatives is actually in place yet.
The Consultation Paper goes on to acknowledge that: “Flood data is produced by local and State governments, with the quality and availability differing significantly between jurisdictions. Some local government areas have highly detailed maps publicly available while others do not have the capacity to produce the data at all.”
Our shire of East Gippsland, along with the local CMA and SES have done a lot of work over recent years on flood mapping and flood prediction modelling. My guess is that they would be streets ahead of some other shires. Yet the information available from these different sources is wildly inconsistent.
If consumers are unable to access up to date and reliable data on their own personal flood risk, how can they challenge any assessment made by the Insurer, particularly if the source of the Insurer’s information is ‘confidential’?
The Consultation Paper includes a table provided by the Insurance Council of Australia, which provides for 5 bands of flood risk. 93% of Australian properties are classified as having no flood risk, and the proposal suggests that flood insurance be provided without any additional premium to these households.
The remaining 7% are divided into low, medium, high and extreme, with indicative flood risk premiums for each band. These indicative premiums range from $77 to $6,777. The risk band is calculated on the likely frequency of a given property being damaged by flooding.
Due to the total lack of transparency, RACV customers are unable to even identify which risk band they have been allocated, since the flood risk premium is not shown separately. From our overall premium increase we figure we have been slotted into the Extreme risk band, meaning we are likely to be damaged by flood at least every 15 years.
Really? During the 2007 floods, when the flood was estimated at between 1 in 20 and 1 in 50 years, the water was nowhere near our property, much less our house, which is about half a metre above the ground.
Depending on whose data you look at, a significant proportion of Islanders who live in the “township” area are at risk of flooding, so many people may find themselves with premium increases in the 300-500% range.
Check your policy carefully (particularly if you are with RACV Insurance), and be prepared for a fight - even though you will be fighting with one hand behind your back until some transparency and accuracy is introduced into the process.
The links included on the Raymond Island website provide further information about this subject.
Kate McKinnon and Jack Pearce
Among the points made in the Consultation Paper is the Government’s proposal to provide “a single access point to existing flood mapping data which will enable consumers and other interested parties to obtain information about flood risk.” The Government also plans to develop national guidelines to cover the collection, comparability and reporting of flood risk information. Neither of these initiatives is actually in place yet.
The Consultation Paper goes on to acknowledge that: “Flood data is produced by local and State governments, with the quality and availability differing significantly between jurisdictions. Some local government areas have highly detailed maps publicly available while others do not have the capacity to produce the data at all.”
Our shire of East Gippsland, along with the local CMA and SES have done a lot of work over recent years on flood mapping and flood prediction modelling. My guess is that they would be streets ahead of some other shires. Yet the information available from these different sources is wildly inconsistent.
If consumers are unable to access up to date and reliable data on their own personal flood risk, how can they challenge any assessment made by the Insurer, particularly if the source of the Insurer’s information is ‘confidential’?
The Consultation Paper includes a table provided by the Insurance Council of Australia, which provides for 5 bands of flood risk. 93% of Australian properties are classified as having no flood risk, and the proposal suggests that flood insurance be provided without any additional premium to these households.
The remaining 7% are divided into low, medium, high and extreme, with indicative flood risk premiums for each band. These indicative premiums range from $77 to $6,777. The risk band is calculated on the likely frequency of a given property being damaged by flooding.
Due to the total lack of transparency, RACV customers are unable to even identify which risk band they have been allocated, since the flood risk premium is not shown separately. From our overall premium increase we figure we have been slotted into the Extreme risk band, meaning we are likely to be damaged by flood at least every 15 years.
Really? During the 2007 floods, when the flood was estimated at between 1 in 20 and 1 in 50 years, the water was nowhere near our property, much less our house, which is about half a metre above the ground.
Depending on whose data you look at, a significant proportion of Islanders who live in the “township” area are at risk of flooding, so many people may find themselves with premium increases in the 300-500% range.
Check your policy carefully (particularly if you are with RACV Insurance), and be prepared for a fight - even though you will be fighting with one hand behind your back until some transparency and accuracy is introduced into the process.
The links included on the Raymond Island website provide further information about this subject.
Kate McKinnon and Jack Pearce
The Cancer Tales Committee wants your story, poem or artwork to include in a community fundraising book
‘Stories of Courage and Inspiration from East Gippslanders '
which is being published and sold to raise money to support
East Gippsland Cancer Support Group
Bairnsdale and District Palliative Care
BRHS Oncology Unit
Centenary House, Traralgon
The aim of this project is to not only to raise funds but to increase awareness of all types of cancer and its effects within our community. Articles, stories and poems submitted for publication will also become a valuable resource. Telling your own story can be therapeutic in itself but the idea of sharing your experience to help others find their own way is another positive and rewarding outcome.
We encourage contributions from a wide range of people, not only those with a diagnosis of cancer but also from carers, families, friends and support workers. Everyone has a unique and valuable experience that they might like to share.
To contribute, stories or poems must be written in your own words and not exceed 1000 words.
For more information on this project or help in compiling your submission please contact:
Have you had a cancer diagnosis?
| • | Pat Wilson, Raymond Island 5156 6850 |
| • | Joyce Edney, Bairnsdale 5152 3035 |
| • | Sandra Livingstone, Buchan 5155 9416 |
| • | Jenny Speer, Bainsdale 51525110 |
| • | June Holloway, Bairnsdale 5152 4778 |
We hope you will be able to join us in this inspiring project
Hi Islanders
Thought I would give a bit of feedback regarding
one of the Koalas relocated last year. An animal
sporting the Raymond Island colours has been sighted in very good condition in the Nowa Nowa area and is most likely one of the animals released near the trestle bridge. Apparently the Koala has taken up "residency" near the Lake at Nowa Nowa and a photo and report was put in the in the local community newsletter from a visitor to the area.
I will be contacting the editor to see if more information might be gained (e.g. male/female etc).
Cheers
L.
Thought I would give a bit of feedback regarding
one of the Koalas relocated last year. An animal
sporting the Raymond Island colours has been sighted in very good condition in the Nowa Nowa area and is most likely one of the animals released near the trestle bridge. Apparently the Koala has taken up "residency" near the Lake at Nowa Nowa and a photo and report was put in the in the local community newsletter from a visitor to the area.
I will be contacting the editor to see if more information might be gained (e.g. male/female etc).
Cheers
L.
See more of Leona's work click here
Leona Waldegrave-Knight | Wildlife Management Officer
Biodiversity Services - Gippsland
Department of Sustainability and Environment
574 Main Street
Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875
' (03) 5152 0447 6 (03) 5152 0444
Leona.WaldegraveKnight@dse.vic.gov.au
Leona
Only kidding you.
Most islanders understand that we need to reduce our koala population and we appreciate your continuing effort. We also acknowledge the respect you and your staff show towards our furry residents.
Your activity will never satisfy everyone, but many, if not most, islanders fully support you.
Editor Feb 2012
Only kidding you.
Most islanders understand that we need to reduce our koala population and we appreciate your continuing effort. We also acknowledge the respect you and your staff show towards our furry residents.
Your activity will never satisfy everyone, but many, if not most, islanders fully support you.
Editor Feb 2012
Its curtains for our hall
Our hall would be one of the best in the Shire,
just ask Joanna Loncar, who is responsible
for the annual inspection of all community
halls on behalf of the Shire
In her words : " You hall is right up there with
the best of them."
We are lucky that over the years we have
always had hall committees that have caringly
looked after the hall and garden..
The repainting in 2010 which attracted twenty
volunteers, demonstrates how much we
identify with our hall.
The hall is one of the busiest in the Shire.
Weekly we have four Tai Chi sessions, a yoga class, Carpet bowls, Table tennis, Happy Hour, (a
wonderful get-to-gether, thanks to Marg and Les Bradd)
Then there is the community Morning tea, numerous “one off " events, private hire and meetings of
one sort or another.
In all that time controlling the noise level of the hall has been a challenge.
The hall is noisy.
We know islanders who do not come to the hall because of the noise level.
We also know that if we were to carpet the floor it would deaden the sound, but that is impractical - a
no-no !
This committee, particularly Jack Holbrook and Peter Jones, started to canvas the various options.
Both spent time researching the cost and effectivness of many methods.
In the end they decided to curtain the back wall.
The cost was over three thousand dollars, most of it donated by RI Tai Chi.
The curtains are up....
The Tai Chi group gives it the thumbs-up. The Happy Hour crowd can hear themselves talk. Table
tennis thinks it’s OK!
You be the judge! See you at the hall!
In the meantime, thanks to Jack and Peter for addressing something that has been a problem for
years..
Feb 2012
|
|
Click on photos
