The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has called for independent engineering inspections of strata title properties in north Queensland, to improve cyclone resilience.

It follows a report from James Cook University (JCU)’s Cyclone Testing Station in Townsville suggesting such a scheme could cut damage bills and bring down strata insurance premiums.

JCU says body corporates would engage the inspectors to assess their vulnerability to cyclone damage. Inspection reports would cost $500-$1000, with higher costs for very large or complex properties, and be valid for 5-10 years.

The university undertook research for ICA in response to complaints about insurance costs and availability in the region.

Strata buildings have faced “significant increases in premiums” in the past few years, the report says.

The project was funded by ICA and policy data was provided by its strata insurance working group.

ICA CEO Rob Whelan says inspections would help body corporates show residents how vulnerable their properties are. They could also identify ways to minimise structural damage from rainwater and storm surge during cyclones.

“If introduced across north Queensland strata title properties, engineering inspection reports would allow a comprehensive assessment of building performance and potential issues, with remediation of any identified elements leading to lower damage bills and a more resilient community that is less dependent on immediate government resources.”

Mr Whelan says rainwater damage is a significant cyclone issue – JCU identified a case in which a strata building faced a large repair bill after initial damage to a rooftop kitchen area.

Last October another JCU study recommended building inspections every 7-10 years.

The new report says body corporates may be encouraged to participate if governments subsidise inspections, and if they receive insurer discounts for acting on resilience.