Insurers await Blacktown hailstorm report
A report into the December hailstorms in western Sydney has been presented to the NSW Premier’s Department and insurers could know by September how it treats them.
Blacktown and surrounding suburbs were battered during the storm as hailstones the size of cricket balls crashed into buildings and cars. It caused insured losses of about $400 million.
The NSW Government and the insurance industry were heavily criticised over their slow response to the disaster, prompting NSW Premier Morris Iemma to give insurers a February deadline for repairs or risk being “named and shamed”.
The report will provide independent analysis of the insurance industry’s response effort.
Sydney broker David Lindfield Seager told insuranceNEWS.com.au last week that property repairs in the affected area are almost entirely complete.
Mr Lindfield Seager, CEO of Davelcorp Insurance Brokers in Baulkham Hills, says while there have been some delays due to a restricted supply of tradesmen, the general view among brokers is that insurers have worked hard to complete repairs.
“They did well,” he said. “We had a fair run compared to others because we did hear some horror stories. But it’s hard to know what’s exaggerated,” he said.
A spokesman for Emergency Minister Nathan Rees says the report is currently before the relevant ministers and will be released within six to eight weeks.
Blacktown and surrounding suburbs were battered during the storm as hailstones the size of cricket balls crashed into buildings and cars. It caused insured losses of about $400 million.
The NSW Government and the insurance industry were heavily criticised over their slow response to the disaster, prompting NSW Premier Morris Iemma to give insurers a February deadline for repairs or risk being “named and shamed”.
The report will provide independent analysis of the insurance industry’s response effort.
Sydney broker David Lindfield Seager told insuranceNEWS.com.au last week that property repairs in the affected area are almost entirely complete.
Mr Lindfield Seager, CEO of Davelcorp Insurance Brokers in Baulkham Hills, says while there have been some delays due to a restricted supply of tradesmen, the general view among brokers is that insurers have worked hard to complete repairs.
“They did well,” he said. “We had a fair run compared to others because we did hear some horror stories. But it’s hard to know what’s exaggerated,” he said.
A spokesman for Emergency Minister Nathan Rees says the report is currently before the relevant ministers and will be released within six to eight weeks.