At Clarity Insurance Brokers, we want to ensure you are aware of these changes, as they directly influence how insurers view your property and how banks assess your mortgage eligibility.
What has changed?
Previously, LIM reports were often dense, inconsistent, and technical. The new reforms (under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Act) have made LIMs more transparent, but also more revealing.
1. The Mandatory “Natural Hazards” Section
Every LIM now has a dedicated, standardised section at the top of the report titled “s44A(2)(a) Natural Hazards”. This is no longer buried in the fine print. Councils must now clearly disclose known or potential risks, including:
• Flooding & Coastal Inundation (including predicted sea-level rise)
• Landslides & Slope Instability
• Earthquake & Liquefaction risk
• Coastal Erosion
2. “Plain Language” Summaries
Councils are now legally required to provide plain-English summaries of technical data. You no longer need an engineering degree to understand the report; it will clearly state the nature of the risk and what it means for that specific piece of land.
3. Integrated Regional Data
In the past, hazard information held by a Regional Council (like a flood map) might not have appeared on a City Council LIM. Now, all agencies must share their data. Your LIM is now a “one-stop shop” for hazard info, regardless of which government body holds the data.
