Recommendations

The Board of Inquiry recommends the Shire review and improve its processes for responding to landslide incidents with a view to including, amongst other things:

a. protocols for timely information sharing with relevant entities, agencies and individuals; and

b. mechanisms for urgent steps to be taken to mitigate the risk of a subsequent landslide, such as contacting the VicSES when there is a threat of a subsequent landslide, and using equipment on Shire or private land (with permission) to try to divert hazardous water flow.

The Board of Inquiry recommends the Shire progress the work that is planned or currently underway to assess and mitigate landslide risk in McCrae, including undertaking a strategic assessment of landslide risk patterns across the full escarpment area and updating its asset management strategies and processes to account for landslide risk.

To the extent not already incorporated, the project should include:

a. obtaining external expert advice about any necessary modifications to the Shire’s stormwater system in McCrae;

b. obtaining external expert advice about the presence and management of excess water around 6 and 10–12 View Point Road and Penny Lane, McCrae; and

c. consideration of the additional mitigation matters identified in section 9.3 of the PSM Landslide Risk Assessment dated 28 May 2025.

The Board of Inquiry recommends SEW clearly document its leak detection processes and procedures to:

a. outline training requirements to ensure employees and contractors apply procedures consistently;

b. set out the systematic steps that employees and contractors must take when investigating unknown sources of water;

c. provide guidance on the interpretation of field test results;

d. require employees and contractors, in more complex cases, to assess whether the unknown water may be originating from a SEW asset located uphill or at a more distant location;

e. set out roles, responsibilities, and escalation pathways for decision-making; and

f. include provisions for periodic review and updating of the processes and procedures to account for any lessons learnt, new technology, or changes in risk profile.

The Board of Inquiry recommends the Victoria State Emergency Service (the VicSES) progress the development of a landslide sub-plan to the SEMP.

In this context, it is also recommended the Emergency Management Commissioner consider consequential amendments to the SEMP, including making water corporations and local councils participating agencies for landslide mitigation activities, such activities should include the:

a. identification of landslide risk;

b. development of operational and maintenance plans and processes for water assets; and

c. sharing of information between water corporations and local councils to assist in the identification of landslide risk and the management of water assets.

The Board of Inquiry recommends the Victorian Government develop and implement a project that addresses data gaps on landslide risk. As part of the project, the Victorian Government should explore options for how landslide risk data can be shared and made broadly accessible, including by those living in areas with landslide risk for use in mitigating and managing the risk.

Consideration should be given to all options, including:

a. the creation of an online data resource;

b. engaging with Geoscience Australia to explore opportunities, such as a partnership, aimed at resuming online data collection of Victorian landslides which was ceased in 2018;

c. the provision of technical or financial assistance to local government authorities where necessary; and

d. statewide mapping of landslide susceptibility, in coordination with relevant government departments.

The Board of Inquiry recommends the Victorian Government review and strengthen the management of landslide risk within the land use planning system to ensure Victorians can have confidence that areas at risk of landslide are subject to proportionate, timely and consistent planning controls.

Consideration should be given to:

a. developing consistent principles for the application of planning overlays, including threshold requirements such as slope gradient;

b. identifying consistent tolerable levels of residual risk to the community;

c. the appropriateness of continuing to combine landslide risk and coastal erosion within a single overlay;

d. building internal geotechnical engineering expertise in the Department of Transport and Planning to support appropriate technical review and applications to amend planning schemes;

e. providing technical and financial support when appropriate to municipal councils to support the identification of landslide risk for the purpose of planning scheme amendments;

f. developing planning practice notes and guidance;

g. incorporating the Australian guidelines for landslide developed by the Australian Geomechanics Society;

h. providing planning authorities with best practice guidance on how to consider cross-cutting hazards such as bushfire and landslide; and

i. requiring more frequent reviews of hazard-related planning controls such as overlays, to ensure they reflect changing environmental impacts.