Landslides Mornington Peninsula: Mt Martha, Anthony’s Nose, Flinders hit
Emergency services have been kept busy clearing debris from multiple landslides across the Mornington Peninsula. And they warn more damage is likely.
South East
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Heavy spring rains have sparked four landslides across the Mornington Peninsula forcing at least one house to be evacuated.
Emergency services warned more damage could be in store as a La Nina weather pattern brought even more rain in coming weeks.
Sorrento SES unit controller Mark Daw said landslips at Flinders on Thursday, October 15, and Anthony’s Nose (between McCrae and Dromana) on Thursday, October 8, were likely the result of significantly more rainfall than usual soaking the region.
“It’s more rain than I have seen in a long time,” Mr Daw said.
“And there’s more on the way thanks to La Nina.”
Boneo Road was closed between Keys Road and Razorback Road on Thursday, October 15 due to subsidence of the road shoulder.
Mr Daw said there were initial fears the entire road would crumble.
However, it was repaired and reopened within 24 hours.
Another landslide at Anthony’s Nose left rocks and soil on Point Nepean Road on October 8.
The road was closed while the Sorrento SES cleared the debris.
No one was injured in any of the landslides but a Mount Martha house was evacuated on October 7 after an initial landslip on the Esplanade on September 29.
The two-lane road was closed between Bradford and Ellerina roads after about 2200 cubic metres of soil and debris crashed down the cliff on Tuesday, September 29.
Up to 14 workers using excavators and front end loaders worked to clear the soil while Mornington Peninsula Shire Council engineers assessed the stability of houses above the road.
More heavy rain on October 7 and 8 caused a second slippage but all the material was caught by a bund constructed by Vic Roads.
An initial assessment determined nearby houses were in no danger however there was concern a third collapse would cut access and utilities.
One house was evacuated on Wednesday, October 7 on the advice of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s municipal building surveyor.
It is understood the residents have since been allowed to return.
The Esplanade reopened on October 12 but locals were still nervous about driving there.
Anthony McDermott said he would continue to take the detour and another resident Karen Setches said she was worried about the amount of water still in the area.
“The water is still seeping through retaining walls, and causing a soggy, mouldy mess on the ground. In two years I’ve been here, have never seen it as bad as this,” Ms Setches said.
The council said it would continue daily inspections of the site and geotechnical assessments of the slip area were underway to assess risk to road users of the Esplanade and a service road.
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