Higher power bill worth it, victim says

After losing her home and business to the deadly Black Saturday fires in Marysville, Margaret Ackerman says anything the Victorian government can do to reduce bushfire risk is worthwhile.

The 79-year-old mother-of-three says if that means Victorians pay a few dollars more each year on their power bills, so be it.

The government has estimated residents will be slugged about 0.1 per cent – equivalent to an average of $1.30 in the first year, up to $13 in the 11th year of the program – to help fund its $1 billion electricity upgrade plan.

“If it means giving up a can of beer or a smoke or packet of lollies or chips or something, well just do it,” Mrs Ackerman said.

“Something has to be done. The sooner something gets done the better. It must be improved.”

Mrs Ackerman has rebuilt the home she shares with her husband of 55 years, Lou, but this time has installed solar panels and a roof sprinkler.

They also keep their grass mown and there are now few trees around the house.

But they decided they were too old to continue the home business they had built up over the years, and which they lost in the fires.

They now just farm a few cattle on their eight hectares as a “hobby” and hope to live in peace in the beautiful countryside of Marysville, without ever seeing another Black Saturday.

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