Safety and site access

Accessing your property

Please do not enter your property until a property impact assessment has been completed, and you have received a clearance certificate.

Entering your property before you have approval can be very dangerous as a range of safety risks may be present, including:

• Live power lines or active solar panels.
• Buildings and other structures may be unstable to enter or walk over.
• Sewerage and septic systems may be disrupted causing health risks.
• Hot, smouldering coals and other potentially hazardous materials may be hidden under the rubble. 
• Asbestos dust and fibres have the potential to present a health risk during and after a fire if not properly managed.

Getting a clearance certificate: The first step is to contact your Insurance Company. In some cases, risk assessments and make safe strategies are part of your claim.

If you are uninsured or your claim does not cover make safe works contact the Public Works Advisory on 1800 885 539.

Insured or not, help is available

Insured

Clean-up can only start once you have clearance from your insurer. Once the site is made safe, we advise you to take photos or video of the damage to your property and possessions as evidence to support your claim, before you being the clean-up.

You can contact The Insurance Council of Australia with any questions, complaints or concerns about insurance on 1800 734 621. 

Legal Aid NSW can provide free legal advice and minor assistance to people affected by disasters on a range of issues, including insurance, on 1800 801 529.

Uninsured

The NSW Government is offering a Disaster Relief Grant for if you are not insured and have limited income. Grants are available for eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household contents have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster.

To be eligible for this grant you must:

• be a low-income earner and meet an income assets test.
• demonstrate that the affected home is your principal place of residence.
• not be covered by insurance.
• demonstrate that the damage was caused by the disaster.
• lodge the application within four months of the disaster occurring. 

For more information, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444.

The Public Works Advisory will arrange the clean-up, undertake demolition and removal of building waste for uninsured properties. Contact the Public Works Advisory on 1800 885 539.