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An Erosion Management Overlay (EMO) is a planning control that protects areas prone to erosion, landslip and other land degradation or coastal processes by minimising land disturbance and inappropriate development.
The new landslide susceptibility study will take about 2 years to complete, followed by a formal planning scheme amendment process to introduce the updated EMOs into the Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme.
Council has appointed an expert geotechnical engineering firm to prepare the study which will identify and map all areas across the Peninsula that are prone to landslides, including preparing an inventory of places that have experienced landslide activity.
The planning scheme amendment will update existing EMOs across the Shire to reflect the study’s findings and recommendations. The updated EMOs will ensure landslide risks are properly assessed through the planning permit process so development can proceed safely.
Both the study and planning scheme amendment process will involve community consultation with all affected landowners and other stakeholders, such as local developers, designers and architects, planning consultants and private building surveyors.
The need to comprehensively review and update the Shire’s landslide planning controls is a high-priority action in Council’s 2026 Planning Scheme Review.
The new Shire-wide landslide susceptibility study will replace the existing Landslide Susceptibility Assessment, Stage 2, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Victoria (Cardno Lane Piper, 2012) (Cardno 2012 Report) which is currently the best landslide susceptibility mapping available for the Peninsula.
The planning scheme amendment will provide a consolidated suite of modern EMOs to replace existing controls. This includes interim EMO7 (Landslide susceptibility), which was approved by the Minister for Planning in 2026 in response to urgent recommendations of the 2025 McCrae Landslide Board of Inquiry.
The interim EMO7 applies to all land on the Peninsula identified as susceptible to landslide in the Cardno 2012 Report that is not covered by any of the other existing EMOs listed below. These EMOs, which have been progressively introduced since the 1970s, will also be reviewed and consolidated, where appropriate, as part of the planning scheme amendment process:
EMO1 and EMO2 apply to hinterland areas, generally from Arthurs Seat southwards to Cape Shank and Flinders.
EMO3 applies to land around Ballar Creek in Mount Eliza
EMO4 Landslide Susceptibility Area A and EMO5 Landslide Susceptibility Area B apply to land around Tanti Creek in Mornington and Flinders township.
EMO6 Erosion Hazard – Beach and Foreshore Areas applies to the Westernport coastline from Somerville to Cape Schanck.
Landslide Susceptibility – Landslide susceptibility - Mornington Peninsula Shire
Interim EMO (EMO7) amendment - Amendment C314morn – EMO7 update - Mornington Peninsula Shire
McCrae landslide page - McCrae landslide - Mornington Peninsula Shire
Phone: 03 5950 1003
Email: strategic.admin@mornpen.vic.gov.au
★July 2026
Consultant appointed and study commenced
July 2027
Community consultation on draft landslide susceptibility mapping and proposed planning controls
December 2027
Finalise mapping and proposed planning controls
2028
Planning scheme amendment process to introduce new EMOs, including public exhibition
2029
Permanent suite of modern EMOs introduced