Group of Black Saturday bushfire survivors awarded $300m compensation

On the eve of the six-year anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires, Marysville survivors have been awarded $300 million with the majority to be paid by electricity giant Ausnet.

Black Saturday is Victoria's worst natural disaster and claimed 173 lives, 45 of them from the Alpine foothills town of Marysville.

Lead plaintiff Dr Katherine Rowe lost her husband in the blaze and today called on power companies to maintain their assets to avoid catastrophe.

The class action alleged the fire was sparked by a break in an electrical conductor on a power pole near the Murrindindi saw mill.

"Lessons have been learned, and hopefully will never be forgotten, so that such devastating loss of life can be avoided in the future," Dr Rowe said.

If given final approval by the court, Ausnet will pay more than $260 million, the state government almost $30 million and maintenance contractor UAM will pay $10 million.

The electrical wholesaler settled without admission of liability and now faces a reported $800 million bill after other asset faults started blazes.