There is a growing chorus of voices calling for answers over the St Patrick’s Day fires.
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Federal senator Derryn Hinch weighed in on Thursday, telling farmers at Terang that he was taking up their cause.
It follows the release of a damning report that showed Powercor failed to pick up on severe decay in a timber power pole that snapped and sparked the Garvoc fire. Four other fires have also been found to be caused by electrical assets, leading to mounting calls for compensation and long-term change.
Senator Hinch said Powercor’s approach had been “deny, deny, deny”.
“Don't take responsibility. Instead of trying to fix it when you know you're wrong, and they know they're wrong,” he said.
“Here's a power pole that's 57 years old and full of termites that's like an arsonist. What could go wrong there?
“So I said I'd take your cause up and try and help you out.”
Four class actions are under way for people impacted by the major fires in March. Powercor has officially lodged defences for the Garvoc, Camperdown and Terang fires, with directions hearings to be held on August 31.
Maddens Lawyers principal Brendan Pendergast said he hoped the investigation and litigation process would lead to long-term change.
“The maintenance of the Powercor distribution system in south-west Victoria we believe leaves a lot to be desired. It’s an ageing asset. We hope and expect that a by-product of the litigation will certainly be that standards improve immediately,” he said.
The Sisters’ Jack Kenna, who owns the property where the pole that started the Garvoc fire was located, said Powercor had to be held accountable.
“We don’t want anyone else to be going through this somewhere else in the state,” he said.
“We want them to go to bed at night and at least know power is not going to let them down. It’s different if it’s an accident… but this is no accident. It should have been addressed.”
An Energy Safe Victoria report released these week revealed that severe decay and a termite infestation weakened the reinforced Powercor pole that snapped and sparked the Garvoc fire.
Investigations are also deepening into the Terang fire, caused by clashing powerlines. At the same time, ESV has concluded investigations into other St Patrick’s Day fires sparked by electrical assets – the Gazette fire, the Minjah fire, the Gnotuk fire and the Warrnambool-Cobden fire at Laang. All were caused by trees or branches hitting powerlines in high wind.
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Adam Jenkins said landholders “urgently” needed a resolution.
“This has been a traumatic time for all farmers affected, and any further delays only serve to make the situation worse. Affected farmers must be compensated as quickly as possible,” he said.
“We will continue monitoring progress and want answers for farmers without delay.”
Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said the VFF was closely following the issue and called on any recommendations from investigations to be adopted “as a matter of urgency”.
“Farmers have suffered losses as a result of these fires and need to be compensated,” he said.
