Mornington Peninsula floods 2022: Family still waiting to go home
A Mornington Peninsula family forced out of their home by a landslide almost a year ago say they have been “abandoned” by the local council.
South East
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A Mornington Peninsula family is still waiting to go home, almost a year after a landslide sent 10 tonnes of dirt thundering into their backyard.
Paul and Denise Willigenburg say they have been abandoned by the local council and are at least $28,000 out of pocket in legal fees and rent since the November, 2022 disaster.
“We are still waiting to be told what caused the slip, who was responsible, what the rectification process is, when it will start and finish and who is responsible for our costs,” Mr Willigenburg said.
“The whole business has become a debacle and a shambles.”
The landslide happened about 6am on Tuesday, November 15 following heavy rain and a minor landslip the day before.
“There was a minor slip on the Monday which resulted in an irrigation system installed by our neighbours up the slope being ripped out of the ground, spewing massive volumes of water onto the slope,” Mr Willigenburg said.
A second, more serious, slip the next day sent “massive volumes of soil, water and foliage cascading down the slope” and into the Willigenburg’s property and the house next door.
Mr Willigenburg and his wife were interstate at the time but their son was home and with help from neighbours managed to divert water away from the house until the irrigation system was turned off by South East Water.
Up to eight properties were evacuated immediately after the landslide and the shire issued an emergency order preventing the Willigenburgs and their neighbours from returning home.
However, the Willigenburgs recently received legal advice that suggested the order for their property was not valid and the shire had “exceeded its powers”.
They planned to move back home this weekend.
Mr Willigenburg said since the landslide the council had carried out drainage works at View Point Road and Prospect Hill Road, above the landslide location.
“Everything has dried out and the weather has improved. We can’t wait forever.”
A Mornington Peninsula Shire spokesperson said the council was seeking legal advice in relation to the “complex matter” and it was not appropriate to comment further.
