Protecting your property from bushfires: Survivors of Australian Black Saturday bushfires get record settlement

Australian Supreme Court approves $494 million settlement of class action from 2009 Victorian bushfires - @AusNewsNetwork ---- Australian court approves record compensation payout to wildfire victims Mon, Dec 22 21:41 PM EST image SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian court has approved a record payout of almost A$500 million ($406 million) to survivors and families of some of the 173 people killed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, the country's worst-ever natural disaster. A class action lawsuit by more than 5,000 people sued electricity provider AusNet Services and asset manager Utility Services Corporation Ltd after a Royal Commission found that the Kinglake fire, the most deadly of the series of wildfires, was caused by an aging AusNet power line. AusNet and Utility Services denied liability. The settlement, which includes the Victorian state government, excludes any admission of liability. On February 7, 2009, bushfires tore through much of the southern state of Victoria, killing 173 people. More than 1,000 people were injured and 1,172 homes were destroyed. "While we can never compensate people for what they've lost, particularly those who've lost loved ones, we have recovered in this proceeding A$494 million," Rory Walsh from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers said after the ruling in the Victorian Supreme court. "We hope that that money can help people alleviate some of the hardships that they continue to experience today," he said. AusNet will pay A$378.6 million, with Utility Services paying A$12.5 million and the Victorian government paying the remainder. AusNet said its liability insurers have paid its entire contribution. The company is still facing another lawsuit over the Murrindindi series of bushfires on Black Saturday and "intends to vigorously defend that claim". The company said its insurance should also cover any payout in that case, but noted that "the ultimate resolution of this matter cannot be known with certainty". The near A$500 million payout is more than double the previous Australian class action settlement of A$200 million paid by Centro Properties Group and accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers [PWC.UL] in 2012 to shareholders of Centro who alleged they were deceived by the group's failure to properly disclose its debt levels. ($1 = 1.2314 Australian dollars) (Reporting By Jane Wardell; Editing by Michael Perry) ============== Survivors of Australian Black Saturday bushfires get record settlement Tue, Jul 15 03:36 AM EDT SYDNEY (Reuters) - Survivors of one of Australia's deadliest wildfires won compensation of nearly A$500 million ($470 million) on Monday, the biggest class action settlement in Australian legal history. The Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire in February 2009 claimed 119 lives, destroyed 1,200 homes and caused an estimated A$1 billion worth of damage. It was part of a series of blazes across Victoria state, which became known as Black Saturday and killed 173 people. Under the settlement of about A$ 494 million reached with the defendants after a 16-month trial in the Victoria Supreme Court, energy company SP AusNet will pay the bulk of the compensation - A$378.6 million. Submissions by the 5,000 plaintiffs said one of the host of fires had been caused by an aging power line owned by the company, majority owned by Singapore Power [SINTT.UL], itself wholly owned by Singapore state investor Temasek. Maintenance contractor Utility Services Corporation Ltd will pay A$12.5 million and Victorian state parties, including Victoria Police, the Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment will pay A$103.6 million. "Today's settlement will provide significant compensation for their losses and some long overdue justice for people who have suffered great adversity," Andrew Watson of Maurice Blackburn, the law firm that funded the case, said in a statement. SP AusNet said the settlement contained no admission of liability on its behalf. Shares in the company, which extended condolences to those who suffered losses in the fire, fell 1.1 percent to A$1.35, compared with a flat broader market. Australia is the driest inhabited landmass on earth and is particularly prone to deadly wildfires, most often over the southern summer. ($1 = 1.0644 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Thuy Ong; Editing by Ron Popeski) ========= In Hong Kong corruption trial, Thomas Chan sentenced to 6 years in jail, fined $500,000 - @SCMP_News More: Property tycoon Thomas Kwok was sentenced to 5 years and fined $500,000 for his part in Hong Kong's biggest graft trial - @SCMP_News Bushfires are a serious risk in many parts of Australia, particularly in the warmer months. And as the devastation caused to lives and property in previous seasons shows, even the suburbs of our biggest cities are not immune. If you live near the Aussie bush, it’s vital you prepare for the possibility of bushfire. bushfire_large640x335 Here’s some tips to help you put your own strategy in place. Prepare a bushfire survival plan It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the country, city or suburbs – if your home is in an area even remotely at risk of bushfire you need to have a bushfire survival plan. Generally speaking, this should apply to: Any house in an area with a history of bushfires; Houses within a few blocks of bushland; Properties not at direct risk but that are situated near a wilderness corridor, and If you’d need to travel through bushland in order to escape. Regarding the fourth point, if you are located somewhere remote or where there’s only a few major roads in and out of your town or property, it’s wise to think about what route/s you’d take to escape a crisis. Remember, in the event of an emergency familiar roads may be blocked, have traffic jams or detours. Planning to make a plan is not a plan. Be decisive. As the fire service says: planning to make a plan is not a plan. It’s best to check your bushfire survival plan and update it annually. Make sure all the family, tenants and any long-term guests know what to do if fire approaches. Woman & daughter assessing their plan Emergency planning resources: There are apps, guides and checklists for bushfire survival that you can download from your local fire service, state or council. Be sure to also stay in touch with the neighbours, and don’t forget to include pets and livestock in your plans. Read more: Real estate as a means to heal Make modifications to your home Even if your bushfire survival plan involves leaving your property, you should prepare your house and surrounds for bushfire as best you can. That way it’ll have the best chance of weathering an approaching fire front. Resisting an ember attack According to the fire service, recent research indicates that ember attack (rather than direct or radiant heat) is one of the major causes of house fires during a bushfire. Keeping your home as fire resistant as possible means paying close attention to areas that embers and sparks can enter and catch alight, places like: decks doors windows, and roof Weak points of house under ember attack during bushfire Image credit: CFA.vic.gov.au So when you’re designing, updating or renovating, think about these key areas and follow advice from your local council or bushfire experts. Read more: How to prepare your home for bushfire season Create a firewise garden When landscaping, consider where you’re placing garden beds, trees and other flammable objects and choose plants that are less likely to catch fire than others. Choose plants that are less flammable than others. Use these tips as a guide when cleaning up your yard: Create a defendable space; Remove flammable objects from around the property; Carefully select, locate and maintain trees; Keep plantings a good distance from one another. Pool and native garden Maintain a fire protection zone There are many small things you can do to minimise your risk of fire simply by maintaining your property to create a “protection zone” around your home: Gutters Ensure your gutters and roof are clear of leaves and sticks; Install metal leaf guards to prevent build ups. Vents Install metal mesh guards on vents to prevent sparks from entering your home. Gas Be aware of where and how flammable liquids are stored; Find a place to move your BBQ & LPG cylinders in an emergency (never indoors); Avoid using gas in hot, windy conditions; Learn how to turn off the gas properly. Read more: Gas appliances – maintenance & safety tips Rubbish and other fire fuels Don’t let rubbish collect on your property – throw it out; Keep piles of firewood covered and well away from the house; Stay on top of clearing leaves, twigs and branches away. Gardening Prune shrubs and trees that overhang the house; Keep any lawn and grass cut short and free of detritus; Use pebbles and rocks in your garden, rather than flammable mulch; Fire retardents Locate and test your nearest fire hydrant; Check that fire pumps, extinguishers and hoses are all in working order. Water Ensure you’ll always have enough water available for the long haul. Check your garden hose is long enough to reach the boundary of your property; If you have a bore or water tank, consider installing a portable pump; Put a Static Water Supply sign on your fence. Making sure your home is prepared not only gives it a good chance of resisting fire, but it helps fire crews defend it more easily if the worst happens. Prepare mentally, physically and emotionally Don’t become complacent. Make sure you’re realistic about the risks as well as your limitations. It’s time to be realistic about the risks – along with as your limitations. As the fire service advise, if you chose to stay and defend your home during a bushfire you need to be prepared for a frightening and very dangerous experience. It’s essential you have a plan for actively defending your house and where you will shelter, as well as having all the equipment and supplies you need. Read more: Mourning loss at home Caught unawares or underprepared? If you are unprepared, or not sure you can defend your home without the assistance of firefighters, leave early. Don’t ever wait until the fire reaches you. Sometimes having an exit plan is wiser than a ‘stay and defend’ plan – especially on a catastrophic fire day. This article is of a general nature and should not be considered a comprehensive plan – be sure to seek expert advice for your particular property, situation and specific location to ensure the best possible outcomes. Follow us on Twitter for more news, tips and inspiration. Become our chum on Facebook and explore our Pinterest boards. 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