Four months after devastating floods caused widespread property damage in North Queensland, Suncorp Insurance said that it is making good progress on home claim payments – with 55% finalised and more than $153 million paid-out.
And to underscore that progress, the insurer recently welcomed back customers David and Janice Kellie (pictured) to their newly rebuilt home after it was completely inundated with floodwater.
Gary Dransfield, chief executive officer of Suncorp, handed the keys back to the couple, who were thrilled to move back into their home after months in temporary accommodation. Given the extent of the damage, their home required a complete strip out including the removal and reinstallation of all flooring, wet areas and wall linings.
Dransfield said he was delighted to be able to personally welcome the Kellies home. “I met with David and Janice back in February when the house was still virtually a shell,” said Dransfield. “It’s incredible to see how much progress has been made in such a short time.”
“Seeing how happy they were to be coming home was a special moment. It reinforces the impact something like this has on people’s lives. We still have a long way to go, but I’m so proud of our teams and the work they’ve been doing to help our customers. We’re committed to being here until the last customer returns home.
“Today I’ve been meeting with customers, local staff and assessors to hear how things are progressing and how they’re holding up.
“For our customers, I’ve been reassuring them that getting them back home as quickly as possible is our number one priority, while still ensuring we maintain high quality repairs and great customer outcomes. We understand it’s difficult being displaced and living in temporary accommodation, but we know how resilient Townsville people are and the community spirit here is amazing.
“For our people and suppliers, it’s an opportunity to say thanks. It’s a huge undertaking managing thousands of claims, so we just want to show our appreciation for all their incredible work.”
