Insurers will return to Hervey Bay this month for a series of scheduled consultations and a public town hall, as the region continues to recover from the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which has resulted in insurance claims nearing $1 billion.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) announced it will facilitate one-on-one meetings between policyholders and insurer representatives on May 15.
The sessions will allow residents with open claims to raise specific concerns, review progress, and obtain guidance on remaining steps in their recovery process.
The consultations will be held from 10am to 4pm at The Clubhouse Hervey Bay, followed by a town hall meeting at 5pm.
The evening session will focus on providing broader information related to claims handling, dispute resolution, and general recovery resources. Consultations will resume after the town hall until 8pm. Registrations are required through the ICA’s booking portal.
Liam Walter, director of mitigation and extreme weather response at the ICA, said the event is designed to support policyholders still navigating the claims process.
“While the Insurance Council and its members had presence in Hervey Bay immediately following this weather event and provided support and advice for impacted community members, it’s important for insurers to visit the region to work through any questions, issues, or concerns,” he said.
Data released by the ICA showed more than 100,000 claims have been filed in connection with ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with losses across property and contents lines now totalling close to $1 billion.
Around 30% of those claims have been finalised, primarily those involving minor damage, food spoilage or temporary housing costs. More complex claims, such as structural losses, are still under assessment.
Separately, catastrophe risk modeller PERILS estimates total insured losses from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred at approximately $2.57 billion, including property and motor vehicle lines across Queensland and New South Wales. The figures were compiled from insurer reports covering the period from Feb. 28 to March 12. A further update is expected in June under PERILS’ quarterly loss reporting cycle.
The recent events come amid mounting concerns over climate vulnerability and insurance accessibility.
Research from Climate Valuation and The Climate Council indicated that over 650,000 Australian properties face high exposure to extreme weather, with more than 1.5 million at moderate risk.
These figures are based on an analysis of over 15 million properties and reflect increasing pressure on both premiums and risk mitigation efforts.
