EIGHT properties affected by the McCrae landslide have been deemed safe, allowing the homeowners to return, while the shire grapples with the enormity of “going it alone” with the recovery, absent of state government support. Meanwhile, the mayor has condemned the “appalling violation” as it has been revealed that some of the evacuated houses have been broken into and looted while their owners were away.
Emergency orders were lifted on the eight properties at 2.50pm Friday (14 February) following the installation of additional ground stability monitoring equipment on Wednesday. The specialised equipment, including global navigation satellite systems, tilt sensors and survey prisms, are believed to provide ongoing stability monitoring over the entire area, giving greater certainty regarding safety and risk factors.
This new information also means some additional residents may be allowed temporary supervised access to their properties early next week, in order to collect essential items and address any perishable goods.
“These are all very positive steps forward in the recovery phase,” said Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh. “Safety remains our top priority as we continue gathering data to inform next steps and work towards returning normalcy to the area.”
The return of eight property owners leaves 11 properties still evacuated, and uncertainty for homeowners about the state of their properties, and security while they are away. News of break ins and looting of the affected properties has heightened tensions, and added further difficulty to the shire’s remit.
“We are deeply saddened to report that several homes within the exclusion zone were broken into, ransacked, and had items stolen,” said Marsh. “This is an appalling violation at a time when these residents have already endured significant hardship. “To help secure the area before these incidents occurred, the shire installed fencing, deployed CCTV cameras with licence plate recognition, placed warning signage, and engaged a private security company for 24/7 patrols. “These measures were implemented to support Victoria Police, who are responsible for law enforcement. “Let me make this clear. The shire is not the police. It can only do so much, but policing is the job of Victoria Police, which is entirely in the remit of the state government. “I visited and spoke with several affected residents yesterday, and I share their anger and frustration at these despicable acts.
“Late on Friday, after residents returned to their properties to discover break ins, I mobilised our Building Maintenance Team to board up broken windows and secure the affected homes. “The Shire will continue to do all it can to support affected residents, and we urge anyone with information about these crimes to contact Victoria Police.”
Tensions remain high between the shire and the state government with calls for state government assistance still unheeded, and the only action from the state being the launching of an inquiry (‘Inquiry’ into McCrae landslip but no ‘technical or financial support’ from state, The News 11/2/25).
Attendees at a meeting of affected residents on Friday night (14 February) told The News that words were exchanged between Marsh and the Labor MP in attendance, Tom McIntosh. Marsh expressed frustration about the exchange and the lack of any assistance from the state government, and told The News “I wrote to the Minister for Emergency Services and Natural Disaster Recovery on 21 January requesting ‘urgent technical and financial support’ and we have not even received an acknowledgement, let alone a meaningful reply”. “It appears the shire are going to have to go it alone,” said Marsh. “It is frustrating, but we are getting on with it.”
To lead the effort, the acting CEO of the shire, Bulent Oz, has appointed the shire’s Manager of Infrastructure Projects, Derek Rotter, as “Director – McCrae Landslide” for the next six months.
A shire statement said “This dedicated role will provide additional leadership and coordination, ensuring recovery efforts move forward as quickly and effectively as possible”.
It is believed the next phase of the recovery is to reinstate power and water services to homes, and work with affected residents to carefully manage brief home access, allowing residents to retrieve essential items and address any perishable goods.
“This is a complex situation, and we are leaving no stone unturned to assist the affected residents every way we can” said Marsh. “Every single step we take, though, has to be measured to ensure the safety of those residents. “I sincerely thank our affected residents and the broader community for their resilience, patience, and cooperation.”
Meanwhile, deputy Liberal leader and Member for Nepean, Sam Groth, has weighed in to the announcement of an inquiry, saying the focus must now be on delivering urgent relief and recovery efforts for those impacted. “The community welcome the announcement by the government that a board of inquiry will be established to investigate the causes of the devastating landslide in McCrae and explore ways to protect their homes into the future,” said Groth.
“While an inquiry is important, the reality is that families are still displaced, properties are damaged or destroyed, and people’s lives remain in limbo. We need more than just investigations. We need a clear, actionable plan to ensure that those who have been evacuated can return to their homes as quickly and safely as possible.”
First published in the Mornington News – 18 February 2025
