WHITTLESEA council has decided not to join a class action suing power company SP Ausnet over the Black Saturday fires.
Council sought legal advice about joining the action by Maurice Blackburn over the Kilmore East bushfires which killed 119 people and in a secret meeting last week voted against it.
The council assets and infrastructure destroyed in the fire were covered by insurance, said Tracey Mallett, council’s acting director of finance and organisation improvement. “Council is acutely aware of the loss and devastation felt by the local community through the tragic Black Saturday bushfires,” she said.
“We were at the frontline of response and recovery and our recovery support to the local community still continues. Council spent just over $6 million in our bushfire recovery efforts, and received almost $5 million in funding support including donations.”
– Sue Hewitt
