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www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
Phone (03) 5723 0100
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2023
Weekend Edition $1.50 INC. GST
HOLIDAY FUN IN APEX PARK
City on track for record gaming losses
SIBLINGS Arya and Willow Tsamados were making the most of the school holidays, having fun in the sun at the Apex Park playground this week. The park has been a popular place for families, although an unexpected guest - a two foot red bellied black snake - temporarily cleared the playground yesterday afternoon. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
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Council push for cheaper electric vehicles Page 6 O&M, O&K match previews
SPORT
Farm insurance fear over solar neighbour NEIGHBOURS of the proposed Meadow Creek Solar Farm have been warned they may face skyrocketing insurance premiums if the project goes ahead. Fires start regularly from human error, and most households/land owners have a liability insurance policy to cover any damages they may cause.
BY SHANE DOUTHIE sdouthie@ nemedia.com.au
Generally, liability coverage is between $10 million and $20 million, some farm insurers can offer $50 million, but anymore above that they have to approach
international insurers seeking a further $50 million or if not $100 million, which is a very costly exercise for landholders. According to Steven Prince from Ovens Valley Insurance Brokers in Myrtleford, if a neighbouring property owner was found responsible for such a fire that severely damaged a solar facility with a build value in the vicinity of
Meadow Creek Solar Farm’s proposed $750 million, they could be facing tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Mr Prince said neighbouring property owners to the proposed solar farm would be liable for damage and loss of earnings if a grassfire for instance began in their property and spread to the
neighbouring development. “It’s a major issue looming across the country,” he said. “The maximum coverage you can get for property liability insurance in Australia is $100 million but the proposed facility is already valued at $750 million. “If the neighbouring property owner is deemed to have caused a fire, say with a grinder, a chainsaw, a slasher
or a hot exhaust, and it spread to the solar farm they would be liable for any damage plus any loss of earnings. “This could equate to hundreds of millions of dollars. “Of course, if the property owner’s actions that caused the fire took place on a total fire ban day the policy would exclude it anyway. ■ Continued page 2
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