Council Moves to Address Long-Standing Compensation Claims Following Water Tank Collapse
Motion for Transparency and Resolution Passes Despite Opposition
Motion 6.2 from the Extraordinary Council Meeting 24 January 2025
By Chris Chan
In a significant step toward resolving outstanding claims from the 2020 Cooma Water Tank collapse, the Snowy Monaro Regional Council has voted in favor of monthly reports on unresolved claims and has committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure fair settlement.
The motion, proposed by Cr Reuben Rose, was seen as a critical move to finally bring justice to affected residents, many of whom have been entangled in bureaucratic delays, insurer mismanagement, and council inaction for five years.
The Long Road to Justice: Residents Left in Limbo
Since the catastrophic failure of the Snowy No. 1 Water Reservoir in January 2020, several homeowners have fought for compensation to address property damage, financial losses, and contamination concerns.
According to Peter Anderson of the Snowy Monaro Community Advocates, at least one claim remains unresolved despite over 150 attempts to contact the council. Anderson, speaking at the council’s public forum, detailed the struggle of resident Jane Doe*, whose case involved asbestos contamination and severe property damage.
Instead of receiving council support, Jane Doe was left navigating a complicated claims process with Sedgwick, the group appointed by council for Ms Doe to contact regarding her claim at the time. However, as Cr Luke Williamson highlighted, Sedgwick later informed Woolley that her claim had been lost (in actuality Sedgwick told Ms Doe her case had been closed), and that the representative handling it, Mr Andrew Webb, was no longer employed with the company.
This shocking revelation raised concerns that other claims may have also disappeared or been mishandled, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of the claims process.
Council Debate: Transparency vs. “Operational Interference”
During the meeting, Cr Rose emphasized the council’s responsibility to its residents, arguing that the failure to settle claims was not just an insurance matter but a governance and accountability issue.
“We are responsible for directing and controlling the affairs of the council. We cannot stand by while people suffer financial loss and distress due to a disaster that was entirely foreseeable and, by all accounts, preventable.”
— Cr Reuben Rose
Cr Rose further argued that the lack of action was eroding public trust in the council, particularly as it would seem council funds—estimated at over $500,000—had been used to compensate some residents while others were ignored.
Cr Davis, speaking against the motion, dismissed the idea that council should be involved, stating that insurance companies, not councillors, were responsible for handling claims.
“It is not appropriate for councillors to interfere in operational matters. If residents feel their claims haven’t been handled correctly, they should contact the insurer directly.”
— Cr Narelle Davis
However, Cr Williamson strongly refuted this argument, pointing out that council is ultimately responsible for how it manages claims against itself, regardless of the involvement of an external insurer.
“We have an obligation to ensure that the process is fair and transparent. If council has already paid out substantial compensation to some residents, while others have been ignored or had their claims lost, that is a governance failure, not just an insurance issue.”
— Cr Luke Williamson
Vote Outcome: A Win for Accountability
Following heated debate, the motion passed with a 7-3 majority, securing the following commitments:
Confidential monthly reports to be provided to councillors detailing the status of all outstanding claims.
A commitment for council to take all necessary steps to ensure the fair and timely resolution of these claims.
Ongoing scrutiny to ensure council funds are being used appropriately in compensation matters.
Voting Breakdown:
✅ For: Cr Stewart, Cr Rose, Cr Thaler, Deputy Mayor Hopkins, Cr Elliott, Cr Williamson, Cr Rooney.
❌ Against: Cr Summers, Cr Higgins, Cr Davis.
The passing of this motion represents a major step forward for affected residents, ensuring that the council is finally held accountable for its role in managing claims.
However, questions remain over the full extent of the mismanagement—particularly regarding the disappearance of and lack of responsiveness to claims and whether more residents have been wrongfully denied compensation.
With the first report due next month, the community will be watching closely to see if this motion translates into real action or if further delays and excuses will continue to plague the process.
For now, residents have won a battle—but the fight for justice is far from over.
We hope this article has resonated with you. If it has, please share and spread the word, and demand change. The truth belongs to all of us, but only if we have the courage to claim it. Together, we can shine a light on the shadows of governance and bring accountability back from the brink.
But remember... the next move isn’t up to them. It’s up to you. Because in the Snowy Monaro, transparency isn’t just a policy—it’s the difference between light and dark.
*Not her real name
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