More than five years after a bushfire destroyed 12 homes and traumatised a community, a $10.5 million payment will make its way to victims of the Scotsburn fire.
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The fire was accidentally lit in a paddock during a total fire ban day on December 19, 2015, quickly spreading from Scotsburn down to Elaine.
In August, the Supreme Court approved the payment, from two of the four defendants - Auto and General Insurance Company Ltd, and EL Mining Solutions Pty Ltd - an insurer, and the maker of the tractor which started the fire.
The court noted the money "may well represent the 'best recovery" that the group could obtain from the litigation.
The 86 members of the class action group, represented by Warrnambool's Maddens Lawyers, have now begun receiving their share of the payment.
One resident, Donna Hart, said she was glad the process was over.
"We're five years down the track and we'd moved on from it, it's nice to finish it off," she said.
"It'll be handy, we'll be able to finish off a few bits and pieces we hadn't been able to finish until this came through."
Donna and her family live on 57 acres at Clarendon - the fire tore through bushland and their sheds, but their house was saved.
READ MORE: Aftermath lingers long after the fire
She said if you look closely, you can still see the blackened trees through the new growth from her back door.
"We're doing really well, we've got our property mostly back," she said.
"It will never be how it was before, but we're still replanting trees.
"People have left here because of it, but you can't let it rule you - we've got better pumps and watering systems now, there's things to improve on to make it safer to stay."
Maddens Lawyers principal Kathryn Emeny said payments began heading to participants in December.
"This has been a long and hard fought class action which we're pleased to have been able to bring to a successful conclusion on behalf of the landowners and residents impacted by this terrible event," she said in a statement.
IN THE NEWS
The fire was started when a landowner was trimming a neighbour's property on his new tractor on a 40-degree total fire ban day - the landowner pleaded guilty to operating machinery without carrying fire safety equipment, and was fined $1550.
The fire burned about 4000 hectares before it was brought under control.
Despite the devastation, the rural communities pulled together and were able to slowly rebuild - Scotsburn's community-led recovery committee was awarded the 2017 Resilient Australia community award for Victoria.
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