Source: RPP FM Radio

Ongoing fears about the stability of the McCrae escarpment have intensified following the collapse of a house earlier this week, prompting authorities to take significant safety measures.

Emergency services have closed a section of Point Nepean Road for at least a week as monitoring equipment detected further ground movement. Officials warn the risk of additional landslips remains high.

Reports indicate that water infiltration may have compromised the substrate, loosening the earth and making the area more susceptible to slippage. RPP FM listeners that live in the vicinity have phoned in and are reporting that cracks and potholes have begun to form, raising further concerns about the integrity of the ground.

Local residents have long raised alarms about underground water issues in McCrae, citing what they claim is a history of inaction by authorities. The recent collapse follows a slippage incident in 2022, which many believe was a precursor to the current instability.

Both Mornington Peninsula Shire and South East Water have launched investigations into the cause of the latest collapse. However, questions about liability are already brewing, with the possibility of legal proceedings being brought before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

In the meantime, 11 properties have been evacuated as a precaution. Authorities have urged nearby residents to remain vigilant and avoid the area while structural assessments and repairs are carried out.

Further updates on the situation are expected as investigations continue.

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This story was originally reported by RPP FM and repurposed by STPL News with permission.