Black Saturday payouts could take decades ASSESSING individual claims in a record Black Saturday bushfires class action settlement could take decades, a judge says. JUSTICE Robert Osborn must first approve a $494.7 million settlement to victims of the East Kilmore-Kinglake fire on February 7, 2009, before it can be distributed. However he says distribution through conventional court processes could mean lengthy delays. "The result is a very long and difficult process," the Victorian Supreme Court judge said on Monday. It is in the interests of the people of Victoria, it's in the interests of the group members and the plaintiff that I sort it out quickly. Four objections were raised in relation to the proposed settlement amount, but one was abandoned before Monday's hearing. Robert Richter QC for the plaintiff, Carol Matthews, said two of the objections said the total amount was not enough but did not provide any explanation, while a third made allegations of government conspiracies and treason and was not relevant to proceedings. He said it was significant that only four objections had been raised among the 5847 claimants who are party to an estimated 10,000 claims. "The absence of objection speaks volumes to the issues of whether the amount of settlement is fair and reasonable," he said. This is the best settlement, in all circumstances, that could be achieved. The alternative was an all-or-nothing outcome for the group. If Justice Osborn approves the payout, the largest settlement in a class action in Australia, it will be paid by SP AusNet, Utility Services Victoria Ltd and the Victorian government. Costs for the settlement process are expected to amount to $60 million which Mr Richter said would seem significant to the uninformed. The approval hearing continues.