Fairhaven landslip

Monitoring sensors have been installed on site to detect movement. Data is being regularly reviewed by the geotechnical consultant to ensure the site is actively managed.

Preliminary geotechnical investigations have been completed. Further detailed investigations into groundwater conditions and the extent and cause of the landslip are underway with the results of this investigation expected by the end of October. 

Once the geotechnical investigation results are available, the consultant will prepare conceptual remediation designs in November 2025.

Once reviewed, detailed designs will be developed in mid-November 2025. We expect the designs to be completed prior to Christmas.

Works are then expected to commence in February/March 2026. 

The vegetation removal is not the only cause of the landslip. The crack was present before the vegetation was removed and our recent investigations have indicated that it has been caused by groundwater issues underneath the slope.

Replanting of the slope cannot occur until the underlying ground water issues – which are the primary cause of the cracking – are fixed. Replanting the slope now will not fix the landslip problem.

Removing the soil above the retaining wall is not an option.

The landslip is dynamic and unstable, meaning any works on the embankment are high risk.

We need to design a solution based on the expert geotechnical investigations due at the end of this month. The monitoring that has taken place so far has been crucial to the findings of these investigations.

We acknowledge the process is taking some time and testing the community’s patience, but our aim is to put a safe, long-term fix in place so that this situation doesn’t happen again.

Yes, to ensure everyone’s safety, the two-way diversion will remain in place through the peak holiday period and until remediation works are completed.

The geotechnical consultants are aware of the properties above the current landslip and are monitoring the entire area.

Monitoring results to date show no ground movement above the visible cracks, so there is no current risk to these properties.

Monitoring of the site continues. Early monitoring showed little movement but that has changed with considerable movement detected in the middle section of the slop after recent rain events, just below the visible crack. 

No movement has been detected above the crack or at the retaining wall. There is no current risk to the properties above the crack.  

Further monitoring is ongoing as we determine what has caused the landslip. Groundwater through the slope is being investigated to determine the extent of movement through the site. 

It's important to note that remediation of the area is not just about replanting, further stabilisation of the slope will be needed to make the slope safe in the long term. 

Preliminary geotechnical reports are expected from the consultant in mid November. Once these reports are received we will progress to detailed design. 

Traffic management arrangements

The landslip continues to pose a high risk to road users. Therefore the current traffic arrangements will remain.

The road shoulder will be repaired and asphalted to prevent further pot holes. We are also upgrading the traffic management to improve the bollard visibility for drivers.

Thanks you for your patience as we continue to keep this area safe. 

• The monitoring stations show little movement at the landslip site.
• Our Geotechnical contractor will continue to monitor the site to understand the cause of the land slip.
• The data collected will be used to guide the long term fix.

Traffic management on Great Ocean Road.

• The temporary traffic controls will remain in place while the Geotechnical contractor continues monitoring of the site. 

Thank you to residents for your patience as we work to keep this area safe for our community and visitors. 

The following actions have been put in place as we continue to monitor the embankment.

• Monitoring stations have been installed at key points along the embankment and retaining wall to provide accurate measurements of ground movement.
• Geotechnical investigations are underway to asses the groundwater levels and identify the underground water pathways contributing to the slope instability.
• This data will be used to determine the long term solutions needed for this site.

A road safety audit has been conducted for the temporary one lane road closure on the Great Ocean Road, and changes have been made as per the recommendations of the report. 

For community safety, the pathway along the Great Ocean Road (north-side) between Lialeeta Rd and Aireys Inlet Skate Park is now closed to pedestrians.

Two-way traffic along the Great Ocean Road has been maintained but traffic flow has been modified. The speed limit in the area is now 40km/h.

Pedestrians, please follow signs and use the south side to cross Painkalac Creek safely.

We're continuing to monitor and we're working with geotechnical engineers to stabilise the area. We ask the public to stay clear of the embankment until the landslip is rectified.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Further cracks and gaps in the landslip area on the corner of Great Ocean Road and Lialeeta Road have widened, and debris has fallen to the footpath below. This indicates ongoing ground movement and and potential instability.

Please keep clear of this area.

Further works starting 10 July

We are currently organising for the footpath on the west side of the Grant Ocean Road to be closed with water filled barriers and all pedestrians will be directed across to the east side of the road.

For pedestrian safety, speed will be temporarily reduced to 40 km/h along this section of the Great Ocean Road.

We're responding to erosion and damage along the embankment near the recently installed underground pit and pipe section on the Great Ocean Road, just west of the Painkalac Creek Bridge. 

A void has also formed next to a grated pit on the northern side of the road.

Further cracks and gaps have been identified along the embankment east of Lialeeta Road, indicating some movement and potential instability in the area.  Please keep clear.

What we're doing now (work to start 2 July):

• Installing temporary fencing along the footpath (east of the bus stop) to keep pedestrians safe. At least 1.2 metres of the path will remain open for access.
• Cleaning up gravel and sediment that has washed onto the path.
• Filling in the void next to the pit.

Next steps:

The fencing will remain in place, while we develop plans for a longer term solution, including revegetation of the embankment.