This fact sheet is one of a series that looks at the steps you can take to give yourself the best chance of fixing or replacing your property and belongings if they're damaged or destroyed in a natural disaster, such as a bushfire, flood or storm.
See Fact Sheet 18: Glossary for definitions of words and terms that are in bold text.
To find other fact sheets in the series go to www.InsuranceCheckup.tas.gov.au or visit your local Service Tasmania for an info pack.
When you are responsible for other structures on your property
If you own a property, you may stand to lose more than your home and belongings or your business in a natural disaster. If you have other structures on your property (e.g. bridges, fences, power poles), it is possible that they are also your responsibility when it comes to insuring and maintaining them. It is up to you to check.
The title documents for your property, including the Schedule of Easements (if there is one), may provide some helpful information. You can get a copy of these documents online through the LIST website at www.thelist.tas.gov.au (fees may apply) or by visiting Service Tasmania. Check the Find a shop page on the Service Tasmania website at www.service.tas.gov.au or phone 1300 13 55 13 to find your nearest shop.
Roads and bridges
Roads and bridges that provide access to your property, but are not ON your property, may be your responsibility. If you are unsure about the ownership of a road or bridge, you can check with:
- your local council. Check the Tasmanian Councils page on the Local Government Association of Tasmania's website at www.lgat.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6146 3740 to find out which council area you live in and its contact details
- the Land Titles Office. Check the Land Tasmania page on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website at www.nre.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6165 4444
- the Parks and Wildlife Service. Check the Property Services page under About Us on their website at www.parks.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6169 9015.
If you do not hold a current licence for the use of Crown land providing access to your property, you may need to apply for one to authorise access and to undertake works on Crown land. You can phone the Parks and Wildlife Service on 03 6169 9015 with any questions you have about this or find more information on their website at www.parks.tas.gov.au.
Fences
Although damaged fences are generally covered under a home insurance policy (as long as they're kept maintained), there are often limits to the size of the fence, e.g. you might be covered only for fences under 500 metres long.
To cover fencing of the type and length found on most rural properties, you need a farm insurance policy or package that includes fence cover.
If you share your fence with neighbours or other landowners (e.g. the Government through its licensing of Crown land), usually insurance will cover up to 50% of the cost of repairs (your share). A shared fence equals shared responsibility for the fence, so it's important to work together on repairing or constructing new fencing after a natural disaster.
For more information on some legal aspects to think about when it comes to fences damaged in natural disasters, go to the Find Information page of the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania's website at www.legalaid.tas.gov.au.
Power poles
A privately owned power pole will usually (but doesn't always) have a yellow PRIVATE POLE tag attached. There are around 65,000 of these private power poles across Tasmania.
They are the responsibility of those who take their electricity supply from the pole. This responsibility includes:
- preventing fire damage to poles by keeping vegetation clear of the base of the poles
- keeping trees on the property well clear of powerlines
- looking for line defects like broken strands, or loose or damaged insulators, and arranging repairs immediately
- checking for broken or damaged pole stay wires and arranging repairs.
There are particular requirements regarding the inspection of poles and powerlines (TasNetworks conducts some and property owners are expected to arrange others) and their management. To find out more about these requirements, including details of contractors authorised to undertake vegetation clearing and pole maintenance and repairs, check the Electrical Standards and Safety section of the Technical Regulation page on the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services website at www.cbos.tas.gov.au or phone 1300 654 499.
For more information and if you have questions about the ownership of poles and powerlines, check the Poles and Wires and Safety pages on the TasNetworks website at www.tasnetworks.com.au or phone 1300 137 008.
Resources
For general information, and for calculators and other tools to help you manage your own insurance:
- Understand Insurance: www.understandinsurance.com.au
- Find an Insurer: www.findaninsurer.com.au
- Money Smart: www.moneysmart.gov.au
Important notice
This fact sheet gives you basic and general information only. It does not cover every situation or everything you may need to know about insurance. It does not take into account your personal circumstances. Make sure you carefully read Key Facts Sheets and Product Disclosure Statements. Ask your insurer as many questions as you need in order to understand how your insurance policy will work for you. Use other tools available to you and seek professional advice if needed.
Information in these fact sheets has been drawn from a number of publicly available Government and non-Government resources.
This project has been jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.