Premier Mark McGowan weighs in on Mira Mar landslip crisis amid Opposition calls for homeowner assistance

Premier Mark McGowan has labelled the Mira Mar landslip an “act of God” in State Parliament amid questioning over whether the State Government would provide support to the affected homeowners. Speaking during a budget estimates hearing last Tuesday, Roe MLA Peter Rundle and Opposition Leader Mia Davies asked whether the State Government would come to the aid of residents. Two of three damaged homes on Sleeman Avenue have been demolished in recent weeks, while residents of three homes on Anzac Road at the toe of the landslip continue to fight a wave of mud, dirt and boulders threatening to crush their homes. Mr McGowan said $250,000 had already been provided to the Great Southern Development Commission for a detailed independent geotechnical investigation and an aerial site survey. “The main thing is, I think, we have advised everyone to leave their homes if they are in any danger, and there has been an extensive program around that,” he said. “So we are doing our best to deal with what is, in effect, an act of God.” Mr McGowan said the State Government was working with residents and the council. “We are hopeful we will have further announcements shortly, but I don’t think it has been resolved exactly what, as yet,” he said. “Obviously, you have got to work out exactly if we can get insurers to pay and all those sorts of things, so we are working through those issues currently.” Mr Rundle said there appeared to be “some sort of Mexican stand-off” between Water Corporation, the State Government, the City of Albany and the residents trying to save their homes. “I mean I haven’t actually seen (the landslip), but it is obviously a very unusual situation,” Mr McGowan said. “I have never heard of this before in WA, but there it is — a landslide. “The most important thing for me is no one gets hurt. “If there is some catastrophic event at any point in time, I have been given every assurance that all the appropriate steps of the people involved have been taken.” Ms Davies pressed Mr McGowan on whether the State Government would help the residents “stuck in limbo” who were not covered by insurance, had been forced to relocate or pay mortgages on land where their houses were destroyed. “These things are never easy because you don’t want to absolve insurers of responsibility by the State just saying we will step in, because then they will not take responsibility,” Mr McGowan said. “Like with all these natural events or disasters if you like — it is not a disaster yet, but a potential natural disaster — you just want to make sure that you help people, protect the State and make sure that whoever is actually responsible, particularly an insurer, is held to account.”