McCrae landslide update - 11 February 2025

Published on 11 February 2025

Statement from Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh

Investigations are progressing at McCrae as we work towards understanding the cause of the landslide and, most importantly, ensuring our residents can return home safely.

The SES has now formally handed over management of the site to the Shire, allowing us to take the next steps in the recovery process. To lead this effort, A/CEO Bulent Oz has appointed the Shire’s Manager of Infrastructure Projects, Derek Rotter, as Director – McCrae Landslide for the next six months. This dedicated role will provide additional leadership and coordination, ensuring recovery efforts move forward as quickly and effectively as possible.

We are moving into a critical phase of investigation and have written to affected residents seeking permission to install specialist monitoring equipment on their properties. This includes borehole drilling for water testing and installing cutting-edge technology such as a Global Navigation Satellite System, tilt sensors, and survey prisms. These measures will provide crucial insights into the landslide and guide the path forward.

Importantly, this next stage may also allow us to reinstate power and water services to homes—a significant step toward returning normalcy to the area. We are working closely with utility providers to manage this process carefully.

We also understand how important it is for residents to access their homes. As part of this phase, we are working on a carefully managed plan to provide brief home access, allowing residents to retrieve essential items and address any perishable goods.

Looking ahead, we are actively exploring a phased return for some residents. This is a complex process, and safety remains our top priority, but we are committed to making progress and will keep the community informed as our plans develop.

On behalf of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, I sincerely thank our affected residents and the broader community for their resilience, patience, and cooperation. We understand how challenging this has been, but we are making progress and remain focused on ensuring the best possible outcome for residents.