Public Liability

Make a Claim

If a Council asset has caused injury or damage to your property or vehicle you can make a claim for compensation. You will need to demonstrate that a Council asset was the cause of the injury or damage. 

Download the Insurance Claim Form here(PDF, 296KB)

How to make a Claim

It is in your interests to submit as much information as possible to assist the assessor to determine if Council is at fault or not.

Please complete the form above, attach your supporting documentation, and email the form to Council at governance@moorabool.vic.gov.au 

 

What to include

Submit, with your completed claim form, all documents and photographs you wish to be considered including:

  • Clear photographs of the damage and cause of the damage, or the cause of the injury and where it happened

  • Documents showing your financial loss as a result of the incident, for example these could include repair quotes, invoices or receipts or any professional reports

 

Why claims may fail

There are some common reasons why claims fail:
  • You can’t establish the cause of the damage
  • The damage involves a Council asset that has met inspection or maintenance requirements
  • The incident occurred on a road or footpath that meets the standards set out in our Road Management Plan or is not on Council’s Register of Public Roads
  • Damage to a vehicle is less than the threshold amount in the Road Management Act 2004 ($1580 as of 1 July 2023)
  • Damage was caused by tree roots where we weren’t aware of the problem
  • Damage is caused by a contractor acting on behalf of Council
  • The incident relates to a pit lid or infrastructure owned by a utility company e.g. Telstra, Optus, NBN, water, power and gas companies
  • The asset and damage is the responsibility of the property owner e.g. stormwater drains on private property

 

Claim Assessment

Once you have given us your completed claim form and supporting documents, these will be forwarded to our claims management provider, Echelon, who will investigate and assess the claim. 

Echelon will contact you directly with the outcome of the claim.

Completion and acceptance of a claim form does not represent an admission of liability on the part of the Council or their insurers, or a waiver of its rights on the part of Council.

 

 

How long does the process take?

Once you have submitted your form and evidence, the process can take 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the nature and complexity of the claim. This process can also take longer if there are delays in obtaining information or other factors beyond our control.