Thrown Under the Bus: Mayor Refutes Premier’s Comments on McCrae Landslide Response

Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Anthony Marsh has responded to the Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s announcement of an inquiry into the McCrae landslide, accusing the government of making misleading statements about Council’s handling of the incident.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced the establishment of an Independent Board of Inquiry to determine the cause of the McCrae landslide and assess whether it could have been avoided. The inquiry will have powers similar to a Royal Commission, enabling it to compel testimonies and document submissions. The final report, expected later this year, will provide findings and recommendations to prevent similar incidents across Victoria.

The January 14 landslide in McCrae resulted in the evacuation of 19 surrounding properties.

Premier Jacinta Allan demanded the Mornington Peninsula Shire to take back responsibility of the McCrae site.

The Premier Jacinta Allan has slammed the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.

“We don’t want different levels of government and different authorities looking at each other. We need them to take action.”

“We need that formal transfer back to the shire to occur so we can get residents on a pathway to return home. It is frustrating to the residents and it’s frustrating to me that the council have not accepted that formal transfer.

“The Mornington Peninsula Shire has had the opportunity now for a week or so to accept the transfer of the site back because it’s part of their responsibilities,”

In a statement released shortly after the Premier’s press conference, Mayor Marsh robustly defended the council saying it was important for the community to “know the truth” about the Council’s response and ongoing efforts to support affected residents.

Marsh outlined in his statement on Facebook, the actions Council has taken since the landslide occurred on 14 January, reinforcing that its focus has been on meeting the needs of the affected community.

In his statement, Marsh listed the following actions taken by council:

  • Direct Resident Support:
    • Council has maintained daily communication with all impacted residents, providing each with a direct point of contact at Council.
  • Community Engagement:
    • Two community meetings have been held, to allow residents to receive updates and ask questions.
    • Council has also written to the surrounding community and established a community recovery committee with local representatives.
  • Public Information:
    • Council’s website is regularly updated to ensure the broader community stays informed.

Marsh further clarified that Council had already taken steps to assume responsibility from the State Emergency Service (SES).

“Council met with senior SES representatives on 24 January with the intention of taking over responsibility for the landslide site. We have since made several attempts to reach agreement with the SES and will continue to reach out in the hope we can complete the transfer soon,”

He said.

However, he stressed that the transfer of responsibility would not impact the recovery process for residents.

“Everything that needs to happen is already happening.”

Marsh also revealed that Council had formally requested assistance from the state government well before today’s announcement.

Noting that on 21 January, Marsh wrote to the Minister for Emergency Services and Natural Disaster Recovery, seeking urgent technical and financial support to assist with the recovery process. However, Marsh confirmed that no response had been received.

Marsh assured that since the landslide, Council has undertaken extensive investigations and engaged relevant experts to determine the cause of the incident.

These investigations include:

  • Trace dye testing and CCTV analysis of the stormwater drainage network
  • Surface water testing
  • Aerial LIDAR surveys to assess ground movement
  • Ongoing monitoring and testing of the affected area

Speaking in an interview with RPP FM Radio, Marsh expressed frustration over the way the state government had handled the issue.

Marsh expressed his frustration over the Premier’s comments, labelling them as ‘misleading’.

“It just seems like politics to me, maybe it’s a deflection because I guess there is that awkwardness with the SES, but it’s hard to tell.

“As I said, we haven’t had contact with us from a very specific set of either technical expertise and or funding to not get a response but then to come out and really throw Council under the bus. It stinks, and I think we deserve better and the residents deserve better.”

Next Steps for the Inquiry

The state government has yet to outline the full scope and timeline of the inquiry, and it remains unclear what additional resources will be allocated to support the recovery process.

STPL News will continue to report on developments as more information becomes available.

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