Landslip incident

The site remains a danger area subject to an evacuation notice until the LEOCON permits re-entry. To date, the majority of residents have been able to access their homes at least twice to retrieve essential belongings. 

Preliminary site works have commenced under the direction of the LEOCON to reduce the impacts of further rainfall on the site and the open scarp, as well as to provide entry for further geotechnical investigations. 

Affected residents should continue to engage directly with their insurer regarding claims to private property. Due to the disaster declaration, some residents may also be eligible for special assistance measures from the State Government. We are aware that several residents have already had their claims paid to their bank accounts. 

City of Newcastle remains committed to working with the NSW Government and recovery agencies to ensure a coordinated, safe, and compassionate path forward for the community.

Now that the emergency response is complete, the Emergency Operation Centre has closed. The LEOCON, LEMO and City of Newcastle continue to liaise and manage the danger area and coordinate responses to affected residents.  We continue to await formal advice from the NSW Reconstruction Authority about recovery. 

We are continuing to monitor the danger area, and results indicate that ground movement remains stable. Survey monitoring has been reduced to weekly, but additional monitoring will take place prior to and after any rainfall event. If there is a substantial rainfall or storm event, we would increase survey frequency again.

Site security arrangements remain in place. Emergency works commenced this week. Further emergency works to clear the work zone, assess and remove trees that are compromised or pose a risk in the zone, and seal the scarp will continue. 

The Emergency Operation Centre remains active, and the LEOCON and partner agencies involved in the emergency response are continuing to meet. We are expecting advice from the NSW Reconstruction Authority about recovery this week.

We are continuing to monitor the danger area, and results indicate that ground movement remains stable. Given these results we will soon shift to weekly survey monitoring. If there is a substantial rainfall or storm event, we would increase survey frequency again.

Site security arrangements remain in place. We encourage residents to continue to liaise directly with their insurers. We are providing prompt site access to insurers and their agents so that they can conduct the necessary inspections and ultimately, resolution to residents on their individual claims.

Emergency works have commenced today with the removal of a number of trees that were either compromised by the ground movement or were obstructing site access for machinery.

This afternoon, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) met with the NSW Regional Recovery Coordinator for the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The discussion centred on advocating for continued support for displaced residents, clarifying agency responsibilities, and seeking guidance on the transition from the current Response phase, to Recovery with the finalisation of the EOC. 

The Regional Recovery Coordinator has committed to seeking formal advice from the NSW Reconstruction Authority on how recovery efforts may be coordinated moving forward and whether the Authority will take a lead role in that process. The formal response is expected as early as next week.

Emergency remediation works are being planned under the direction of the LEOCON. These works are planned to commence next week (weather permitting) and are designed to increase site stability and help prevent further ground movement in the event of unfavourable weather. This will include management of unstable trees, and earthworks to close the earth to prevent further water ingress.  Once this stage is complete, it will allow for more detailed engineering assessments to proceed.

We are actively looking for safe opportunities to support residents in recovering as many items as possible, therefore planning is underway to facilitate additional entry into affected properties to allow residents to retrieve further personal belongings. Timing will be confirmed next week, based on ongoing assessments and expert geotechnical and structural advice. 

Security and police patrols will continue at the site until further notice, and site assessments are ongoing.

We thank residents for their continued patience and will share further information as it becomes available.

Through the LEOCON, regular conversations are occurring with impacted residents to provide them updates on the situation and connect them with support services throughout this difficult time.

In positive news, no further ground movement has been recorded over the long weekend following last week's rain. 

In addition to email and phone updates, resident meetings have been held on Monday 26 May and Tuesday 3 June.

We have advised affected residents of the expected timeframe and process for the detailed engineering investigations that are required to determine a plan for the impacted properties. We also confirmed that we will provide relevant information to insurers to support residents in their claims, including claims related to medium- to long-term accommodation for the period while the investigations are carried out and recommendations are developed for the long-term safety and management of the site.

Through the LEOCON, regular conversations are occurring with impacted residents to provide them updates on the situation and connect them with support services throughout this difficult time.

Ground monitoring continues, with no ground movement of significance recorded since the initial incident.

An initial community meeting was held on Monday 26 May with impacted and surrounding residents, and a second meeting was held with impacted residents on Tuesday 3 June.

At the most recent meeting with the affected residents we discussed the expected timeframe and process for the detailed engineering investigations. We also confirmed that we will provide relevant information to insurers to support residents in their claims, including claims related to medium- to long-term accommodation for the period while the investigations are carried out and recommendations are developed for the long-term safety and management of the site.

We will add further information when we can as we work through the emergency response, and as we transition to the recovery phase.

Through the LEOCON, regular conversations are occurring with impacted residents to provide them updates on the situation and connect them with support services throughout this difficult time.

An initial community meeting was held on Monday 26 May with impacted and surrounding residents, and a second meeting was held with impacted residents earlier this evening on Tuesday 3 June.

We continue to update answers to frequently asked questions in the section below. We will add further information when we can as we work through the emergency response, and as we transition to the recovery phase.

A community meeting was held on Monday 26 May with impacted and surrounding residents. Through the LEOCON, regular conversations are occurring with impacted residents to provide them updates on the situation and connect them with support services throughout this difficult time.

We continue to update answers to frequently asked questions in the section below. We will add further information when we can as we work through the emergency response.

Further details of support services available were added to the page at this time.

A community meeting was held on Monday 26 May with impacted and surrounding residents. Through the LEOCON, regular conversations are occurring with impacted residents to provide them updates on the situation and connect them with support services throughout this difficult time.

We continue to update answers to frequently asked questions in the section below. We will add further information when we can as we work through the emergency response.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (below on the page) were updated at this time.

A community meeting was held on Monday 26 May with impacted and surrounding residents. Through the LEOCON, regular conversations are occurring with impacted residents to provide them updates on the situation and connect them with support services throughout this difficult time.

We have begun answering frequently asked questions in the section below. We will add further information when we can as we work through the emergency response.

Supporting information added:

NSW Fair Trading, Help after the floods

This site outlines things you should be aware of after a natural disaster occurs, as well as information about financial support.

Legal Aid NSW, Disaster Response Legal Service 

The Disaster Response Legal Service is a free legal service supporting people who have been impacted by disasters including storms, floods and bushfires.

The service can help with legal issues such as insurance (including temporary accommodation, food spoilage, cash settlements and disputes), access to government disaster grants, tenancy and housing issues including urgent repairs and rent abatements, and financial hardship. Call 1800 801 529 to book a free appointment with a solicitor for phone advice.

We acknowledge that the uncertainty around this is upsetting. Our top priority is the safety of residents and of the team undertaking assessments on site, while we work to determine the extent and impacts on each affected property.

We are liaising with impacted residents and working with engineers to determine whether it is safe for residents to enter their homes to retrieve essential items. Each property has been impacted differently, so access is determined on a case-by-case basis for each residence.

The site remains a danger area. For residences that have been deemed safe to enter for brief periods to collect essential items or to undertake insurance assessments, the determination from the visual structural engineering assessment is on the basis that entry is for a defined, short period of time only. The assessment only applies to that specific period of entry. A new assessment must be undertaken prior to each separate period of entry.

Given the topography of the site and the assumed nature of the landslip there is ongoing risk of geotechnical instability. That is, if ground conditions change, the structural integrity could also change as a result.

Monitoring of ground movement is continuing, and this data will inform more detailed structural assessments and therefore recommendations relating to each property longer term.

In addition to regular police patrols of the area, security services have been engaged to patrol the boundary of the danger area.

For safety reasons, Ausgrid disconnected power to the evacuated homes following the incident.

The sewer main behind the impacted properties was damaged. Temporary repairs have been undertaken to maintain service for the surrounding area.

If you do experience smells or spillages contact Hunter Water.

Impacted properties connected to gas supply have been disconnected as a safety precaution.

If you smell gas in the area please call triple zero (000).