Wednesday, 2 April 2025

 Sam GROTH (Nepean) (09:45): I want to rise today to express concern but also my unwavering support for the residents of McCrae who have endured unimaginable hardship due to the local landslides, the most recent of those on 14 January 2025. A recent A Current Affair investigation shed light on some of the distressing experiences, especially those of Paul and Denise Willigenburg, pensioners who were originally displaced from their dream home in November 2022 by the landslide that happened back in that year. They relocated to a rental property but were again forced to evacuate following the devastating landslide in January this year. Despite the establishment of an exclusion zone, reports have emerged of looting targeting the abandoned homes, further victimising the affected residents.

The response from the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has been nothing short of inadequate. Residents have voiced frustrations over the lack of clear communication, transparency and timely action, and the council’s failure to provide immediate financial assistance has left many covering their own accommodation costs, exacerbating their distress. The state government has established a board of inquiry, and I thank the Minister for Local Government for that. It has been a little bit delayed. It will be led by Renée Enbom KC, and while this is a step towards understanding the causes, it does little to address the immediate needs of those displaced residents. So I call on the minister, the Allan Labor government and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to prioritise the welfare of McCrae residents. Immediate financial assistance, clear timelines for remediation and robust security measures are imperative immediately.