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February 16, 2016
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Issue 86
Mehan outraged at delay in storm damage repair esidents of the Bateau Bay area are still struggling to repair their homes following the violent hail storm that struck the area on September 17 last year.
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Member for The Entrance, Mr David Mehan MP, visited residents of Lancaster Pde who have not yet moved back into their units and have been living in a variety of rental and shared accommodation since the September hail storm. The storm caused ceilings to collapse and extensive water damage to the properties with most units in Lancaster Gardens being completely gutted due to damage. Ms Barbara Champley said she had been living in her unit for the past 25 years and had never lodged an insurance claim in her life. “I do own my unit but I don’t know what I have got now, only an empty shell,” she said. “I was down at The Entrance that day and someone rang and said you’d better come home. “When I got to Bateau Bay the hail was like snow. “When I put the key in the door, there was water pouring through the ceiling, through the light fittings, so I went to get help, but by the time I got back, the whole ceiling fell in, and after that, everyone’s ceilings
David Mehan MP along with Barbara Champley and Phillip and Patricia Cupples view the damage
seemed to do the same,” Ms Champley recalled. According to Ms Champley, the insurer was “very slow from the beginning”. At first the residents were “stunned” and not sure who to turn to for help. Between September and December they mainly dealt with the
strata management company, according to Ms Champley. She initially stayed with her sister, then in a motel, then an apartment at The Entrance, and since Christmas she has been staying with a friend. The insurance company has helped with living costs, but at nearly 80 years of age, Ms
Champley wants to return to her own home as soon as possible, “I’ve lost nearly everything that I owned,” she said. “Before Christmas we had a meeting with everyone and the insurance company came out and it all looked very promising, then we had workmen cleaning out
the mould, but since then, nothing has happened. “There is no indication of when the work will be done. “I do have contents insurance as well, but that is with a different company, but it is not much use yet, because I haven’t got anywhere to put anything. “I have hardly even
had any clothes. “I want the work to start, there are 14 units in our complex and the whole 14 are affected by this and we want some communication to know what is going on. I am feeling very down about it all,” she said. Mr Mehan said he had been working with the local community and the strata company to see works completed and residents moving back into their homes. Mr Mehan threatened to name and shame insurance companies that are not giving the storm damaged area the attention it deserves. “It has been four months since the September hail storm and locals are still struggling to have their homes repaired,” Mr Mehan said. “All of the residents of Lancaster Gardens were fully insured, yet they are still waiting for their insurance companies to begin work on their homes. “These houses have been sitting empty since September with major repairs yet to begin. “The insurance companies need to communicate clearly with residents and begin fit outs on the houses so these people can get back to living their lives.”
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Media release, Feb 11, 2016 David Mehan, member for The Entrance Interview, Feb 12, 2016 Barbara Champley, Bateau Bay