Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby has slammed NSW Government’s proposed reforms to override emergency agencies’ advice, warning they risk undermining community safety and driving up insurance costs.
Ms Scruby highlighted that research undertaken by the Actuaries Institute shows a 33% increase in home insurance over the last two years, primarily driven by costs of flooding and other extreme weather. It also shows insurance stress is now being experienced by 15% of households meaning they are spending an average of 9.6 weeks of their gross income on home insurance - seven times more than non-stressed households. The Insurance Council of Australia has made clear that the most sustainable way to lower premiums is to reduce disaster risk through stronger planning, mitigation, and resilience.
The Northern Beaches know the dangers of extreme weather all too well. Just last year, residents were first evacuated and then told it was too late to leave. In 1979, bushfires tore through Pittwater, claiming five lives and destroying homes. Looking ahead, the NSW Government’s own State Disaster Mitigation Plan warns that by 2060, the Northern Beaches will be the hardest hit LGA in the state for climate-related costs.
Quotes attributable to Ms Scruby:
“How have we gone from this issue being so great that the National Cabinet committed to creating a national standard for considering disaster and climate risk in land use planning, to now being ignored by the state government?”
“There is no debate - the only way to put downward pressure on home insurance is to ensure we reduce the risk and don’t build in bushfire and flood-prone areas.”
“This is a cost-of-living issue which will lead to ever soaring bills for taxpayers and anyone who pays for home insurance.”
“Our emergency services, many of whom are volunteers, are on the frontline of fires and floods. They know what is safe and where it is not. Housing supply must never come at the expense of basic safety.”
“Planning decisions in high-risk areas must be guided by experts, not developers or Ministers. To do otherwise would put communities at unnecessary risk.”
“Here in Pittwater residents have double digit home insurance or can’t afford to insure at all. We can’t continue to replicate the mistakes of the past by building in these areas.”
“The LA fires were a stark reminder that we can’t build in areas of extreme risk nor underestimate the impacts of a broken insurance system.”
A key example is the proposed Patyegarang (formerly Lizard Rock) development at Belrose. The RFS has consistently opposed the project, warning of extreme bushfire danger and inadequate evacuation routes. Former Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins has also raised concerns. “Locals know these are bushfire traps, one road in and one road out.”
“Our community is not opposed to housing. We want homes built in places where people can live safely, afford insurance, and have proper infrastructure and evacuation routes,”
“Ignoring the advice of emergency services would be a step backwards for both safety and affordability.”