Landslip limbo — Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby to visit site of Mira Mar landslip crisis

Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby will fly to Albany today to visit the site of a landslip threatening homes in Mira Mar. Speaking to the Advertiser yesterday, Mr Whitby said his “heart goes out” to residents caught in the landslip as a team of specialist urban search and rescue advisors have been deployed to Albany to support the response. Tensions over the handling of the landslip reached a high point on Friday when Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington and South West MLC James Hayward slammed the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for “inaction” on the crisis and called on Mr Whitby to intervene. The cause of the landslip is in dispute, but a history of ground movement in the area, heavy winter rainfall, a burst water main on July 30 and land subdivision have all been cited as possible factors. Three homes have been evacuated on Sleeman Avenue as damage worsens daily despite efforts from the City of Albany and Water Corporation to pump water out of the area. Residents of the three homes on the street below — Anzac Road — are fighting to keep a mass of slowly moving dirt and granite boulders away from the foundations of their homes. Mr Wellington said he walked out of a meeting with acting Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Waters on Friday morning after he revealed the department had sought legal advice over their responsibilities. “We have two houses completely written off, there is no insurance on them, there is no solution whatsoever to resolve the problem, and they don’t want to get involved,” Mr Wellington said on Friday. “I just think that is the most extraordinary thing I have ever heard. I think it is poor management on their behalf and I am calling them out.” Mr Hayward said DFES seeking legal advice was “offensive” to the Albany community. “It is a natural disaster and if this happened in Rockingham we would not be standing here with the mayor with no help from the State,” he said. “The people of the City of Albany contributed about $3.7 million a year to the emergency services levy and when they have gone to ask for help they have spent that money on getting legal advice to say we don’t have to help. Where is the compassion?” Later that day, Mr Waters defended his department’s response to the landslip. He confirmed the department’s legal advice was that the landslip was not classified as an emergency under the Emergency Management Regulations 2006. He also said first ground movement was observed in the area after a subdivision approved by the City in 2013. “DFES’ priority is always to protect the lives of Western Australians, but we are not responsible for remediating defects on private property — that responsibility lies with local government or insurers,” he said. “DFES is responsible for the prescribed hazard of collapse, which is an emergency in which people are trapped. The collapse emergency response is focussed on locating, treating and extricating casualties. “If there was an emergency at Sleeman Avenue, our role would be to respond to any risk of injury or threat to life — we would not assume responsibility for long-term remediation works of private land.” Acting Commissioner Waters said DFES was in “constant communication with the City” and had ensured its staff were familiar with the Sleeman Avenue area in the event of an emergency. He said DFES supported the recommendations provided to the City by geotechnical consultants. In a statement yesterday, Mr Whitby said the State Government would continue to closely monitor the situation and provide assistance to the City of Albany. “This is a complex and long-running issue dating back to at least 2013, when several properties experienced movement following construction works. DFES was advised in August this year after further movement occurred,” he said. “While this doesn’t meet the definition of an emergency under the Emergency Management Act, DFES is nonetheless actively involved in supporting the City of Albany. A significant response is already under way. “DFES is liaising with the City and providing additional support within the incident support group and a team of urban search and rescue advisors have been deployed to Albany to provide specialist advice as required. “With heavy rain forecast in coming days, I urge residents who have been advised by the City to temporarily relocate to do so. The safety and welfare of residents must be the number one priority.” Anzac Road resident Alan Smith said earth from the Sleeman Avenue properties was being pushed down the hill towards the foundations of three Anzac Road homes at about 30cm a day. He said the residents intended to stay to protect their homes. “We are treading water with the fact that we are trying to keep our houses in tact,” he said. “I suppose the biggest response we want from anybody is aid in the form of removal of soil just to keep ourselves sane. “We just need some action by anybody. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the government but it would certainly be helpful if we could get some big machines.”