Yes snag, I'll bet there are a lot more clearing a sensible area around their houses down there now.

The fool councils or environment departments wouldn't dare to take people to court for doing so, now & for a few years. The public would have their guts for garters if they tried.

It's a real pity that so many have to suffer because of governments not doing their jobs.

The insurance company is not to blame for people not being covered for the flood that occurred this year. For starters much of the responsibility for flooding rests with the Government and those it appointed to manage the dam. Next, the responsibility rests with those who knowingly purchased in areas flooded in 1974 (and since then )and who benefited by paying lower prices for their property for this reason. Why would they then expect a well managed insurance company to cover them for a flood similar to that of 1974? Lastly, buyers of any policy are expected to read the fine print and ask questions if they cannot understand the fine print. It is really their own fault if they are too busy to be bothered until after an event.
Instead of complaining, they should be grateful that people donated money and time to help them clean up. And if they have a gripe because they had no idea they were in a flood zone, they should sue the conveyancing solicitor who should have told them (or is it that they too tight to pay for this search?)
Each flood affected person knows where they stand on this. It is just easy and too simplistic to blame the insurance companies.
And before you reach for the knife - Yes , we were affected by the flood and Yes, we knew the possibility existed for a repeat of 1974 because we know Government and bureaucrats cannot be trusted.