Roma v Wagga Wagga on Flood

It was pleasing for the residents of Roma to learn that a major insurer in their town, Suncorp, had reduce premiums by up to 90%, even though the flood mitigation work being undertaken by the Council, with funding from the State and Federal Government, was not yet completed. It does show that the insurance industry does want to work with local authorities in protecting the home and business owners from unforeseen circumstances.

The private insurance industry cannot fund regular certainties, such as flood damage, to properties in known flood areas.

It was, therefore, extremely disappointing to me, those in the insurance industry in Wagga Wagga and to many of the residents of the City, when the Councillors elected not to go through with promised flood mitigation works despite significant funding from the NSW State Government.

Thankfully common sense prevailed and under great pressure this decision has recently been overturned, but now the fight to find the shortfall in funding is underway.

I would remind the local authority of Wagga Wagga of the words of John Locke from over four hundred years ago:

“Government has no other end but the preservation of property”  (1681)

Hopefully, the procrastination of the Wagga Wagga City Council is short lived. If it is not my advice to the residents of the City are to find some better elected officials and have the double benefit of less risk of flood and much more affordable flood insurance.