Landslip incident

In emergencies, local councils support emergency services and help manage impacts to public infrastructure, taking actions that fall within their usual responsibilities to the community. During the emergency response phase, the LEOCON leads, and councils provide support. During recovery, councils may take on a lead coordination role, especially where public infrastructure is impacted.

We understand the significant hardship this situation has caused, however, the recovery, reinstatement or repair of private property is the responsibility of landowners and their insurers. City of Newcastle is not authorised to use public funds for works or repairs on private land, unless directed under specific laws or supported by state or federal disaster funding programs.

City of Newcastle’s role is to manage public safety. Fencing and restricted access have been implemented to prevent harm and protect the community. Any further property protection should be discussed with insurers. Some insurers have already taken appropriate measures to protect their vacant properties on behalf of the respective landowner.

We understand this situation is deeply distressing and that prolonged uncertainty makes it even more challenging for residents. However, we believe it is important to be open and clear about what lies ahead.

A geotechnical investigation is commencing in August and is expected to take approximately five months, followed by an additional peer review process by the NSW State Government's Public Works Authority following completion of the investigation.

Following this, additional time will be required for consideration of recommendations and to determine appropriate solutions. Any recommendations required before safe reoccupation will also involve further time for design and implementation.

The long-term future of private properties in the affected area will be informed by several factors, including:

• The findings of the detailed geotechnical investigation and any additional reporting required.
• Any changes to the current Danger Area designation.
• Expert advice individual landowners may seek (such as structural, geotechnical or planning advice) to understand the specific impacts on their property and inform any future decisions or works.  
• Relevant planning pathways under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

On 23 July, City of Newcastle issued a demolition order for one of the affected properties following specialist advice that the building posed a structural collapse risk due to ongoing ground movement. This decision was not taken lightly and followed discussions with the owner. The order was necessary to protect the surrounding environment, neighbouring properties, and infrastructure. Recent heavy rainfall has led to further land and property movement within the landslip area, including further structural damage to the property which is already subject to the demolition order.

The stability of other dwellings in the area continues to be monitored by CN and consultants as part of the overall landslip site monitoring. Property owners are responsible for any make safe works to their individual homes.

On 25 July City of Newcastle (CN) received a letter from The Hon Janelle Saffin MP, NSW Minister for Recovery, acknowledging our requests for support from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA). The Minister formally advised that while the RA is the lead agency for natural disaster recovery in NSW, it will not be the lead agency for the recovery phase of the New Lambton landslip.

On 28 July, following a late afternoon meeting with the Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON), CN received confirmation that initial impact assessments have been completed and the situation has now stabilised enough for the emergency response phase to conclude. This is a significant milestone and means the focus can now shift to recovery.  

This formal handover transfers coordination of recovery operations to CN, as Chair of the Local Recovery Committee (LRC), in line with Section 6.2 of the NSW Recovery Plan. The LEOCON will continue to attend the LRC and provide support as needed.

We know this change does not resolve the uncertainty that residents are facing, but it marks an important step forward. CN is committed to working with the affected residents throughout recovery in a coordinated and transparent way. We are now taking steps to appoint a dedicated Recovery Coordinator and form the Local Recovery Committee. 

The area remains under an evacuation order issued by the LEOCON and is still classified as a Danger Area under the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989. This will remain in place until the LEOCON is satisfied that the site is safe for the community.

In the meantime, City of Newcastle will continue to maintain fencing, signage, and increased ground movement monitoring, especially around forecasted wet weather. We will continue to provide updates to affected residents as recovery progresses, work closely with your insurers to coordinate periodic safe access where possible, and provide general updates to the dedicated landslip page on our website with the latest information.

Since the incident on 23 May, residents have been provided updates via phone calls, email, community meetings as well as this dedicated incident web page. We appreciate that affected residents understandably have many questions and concerns, however we acknowledge that it is too early to be able to determine how long the process will take, and it would be unwise to speculate on future outcomes until the necessary investigations have taken place.

We will continue to provide residents with updated information as soon as we are able to do so.

As stated in our last update, following the transition of recovery coordination to City of Newcastle, we began steps to appoint a dedicated Recovery Coordinator and form the Local Recovery Committee. The Recovery Coordinator is now on board and will be introduced to affected residents soon. 

A detailed geotechnical investigation is commencing soon, with site establishment works underway. It is expected to take approximately five months, followed by an additional peer review process by the NSW State Government's Public Works Authority following completion of the investigation. 

The site remains a declared danger area under an active evacuation notice. All affected properties remain within the designated danger area, and access continues to be restricted for safety reasons as ground conditions remain active and potentially unstable. Where safe to do so, we continue to coordinate brief periods of access for residents, their insurers or agents to enable removal of belongings, inspections and make-safe works. 

Recent heavy rain has led to further land and property movement within the landslip area, including further structural damage to one of the properties which is already subject to a demolition order. This order was issued on 23 July to protect the surrounding environment, neighbouring properties and infrastructure given the extent of impact to this particular property.

Yesterday marked an important change in how the landslip is being managed.

Summary update:

• The LEOCON has confirmed that initial impact assessments have been completed and the situation has now stabilised enough for the emergency response phase to conclude.
• City of Newcastle is now formally establishing a Local Recovery Committee for the New Lambton landslip and will continue working with the affected community and a range of government agencies, consistent with the national principles for disaster recovery and the NSW Recovery Plan.
• The area remains a declared Danger Area, and the Evacuation Order remains in place.  These actions were taken by the LEOCON to protect life and property.  
• A detailed geotechnical investigation is planned to commence in the next two weeks, and is planned to take at least five months, followed by an independent peer review.
• Residents should plan for alternate accommodation into 2026 due to the complexity of the situation and anticipate that further time may be required for any additional studies or recovery works.
• City of Newcastle’s role is to prioritise community safety and the restoration and protection of public infrastructure. Decisions and actions relating to private property reinstatement will need to be managed by individual landowners, supported by their insurers and relevant advisors.

Detailed update:

Current status

On 25 July City of Newcastle (CN) received a letter from The Hon Janelle Saffin MP, NSW Minister for Recovery, acknowledging our requests for support from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA). The Minister formally advised that while the RA is the lead agency for natural disaster recovery in NSW, it will not be the lead agency for the recovery phase of the New Lambton landslip.

On 28 July, following a late afternoon meeting with the Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON), CN received confirmation that initial impact assessments have been completed and the situation has now stabilised enough for the emergency response phase to conclude. This is a significant milestone and means the focus can now shift to recovery.  

This formal handover transfers coordination of recovery operations to CN, as Chair of the Local Recovery Committee (LRC), in line with Section 6.2 of the NSW Recovery Plan. The LEOCON will continue to attend the LRC and provide support as needed.

We know this change does not resolve the uncertainty that residents are facing, but it marks an important step forward. CN is committed to working with the affected residents throughout recovery in a coordinated and transparent way. We will now commence steps to appoint a dedicated Recovery Coordinator and form the Local Recovery Committee. 

The area remains under an evacuation order issued by the LEOCON and is still classified as a Danger Area under the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989. This will remain in place until the LEOCON is satisfied that the site is safe for the community.

In the meantime, City of Newcastle will continue to maintain fencing, signage, and increased ground movement monitoring, especially around forecasted wet weather. We will continue to provide updates to affected residents as recovery progresses, work closely with your insurers to coordinate periodic safe access where possible, and provide general updates to the dedicated landslip page on our website with the latest information.

Timeframes

We understand this situation is deeply distressing and that prolonged uncertainty makes it even more challenging for residents. However, we believe it is important to be open and clear about what lies ahead.

Once commenced, the geotechnical investigation is expected to take approximately five months, followed by an additional peer review process by the NSW State Government's Public Works Authority following completion of the investigation. We expect the detailed geotechnical investigations to commence on site within the next two weeks.   

Following this, additional time will be required for consideration of recommendations and to determine appropriate solutions. Any recommendations required before safe reoccupation will also involve further time for design and implementation.

While we cannot provide a definitive timeframe for completion, we want to be transparent about the likely duration. Looking at other landslip recovery efforts across Australia gives some indication of how long it can take to work through challenges of this scale. We share this information openly to support residents in making informed short to medium-term plans.

Responsibilities

City of Newcastle is responsible for public infrastructure such as roads, footpaths and stormwater systems. We continue to monitor the site closely and are coordinating a detailed geotechnical investigation to assess the ground conditions, including risk to these public assets.

For clarity, responsibility for privately owned land and dwellings ultimately rests with individual landowners and their insurers. Councils do not have a role in directing or funding repairs to private property unless formally required to do so by legislation or supported through state or federal disaster recovery programs.

The long-term future of private properties in the affected area will be informed by several factors, including:

• The findings of the detailed geotechnical investigation and any additional reporting required.
• Any changes to the current Danger Area designation.
• Expert advice individual landowners may seek (such as structural, geotechnical or planning advice) to understand the specific impacts on their property and inform any future decisions or works.  
• Relevant planning pathways under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Recent actions

On 23 July, City of Newcastle issued a demolition order for one of the affected properties following specialist advice that the building posed a structural collapse risk due to ongoing ground movement. This decision was not taken lightly and followed discussions with the owner. The order was necessary to protect the surrounding environment, neighbouring properties, and infrastructure.

The stability of other dwellings in the area continues to be monitored by CN and consultants as part of the overall landslip site monitoring. Property owners are responsible for any make safe works to their individual homes.

Site status

Rainfall in early July has resulted in additional ground movement, demonstrating that the site remains unsafe. Regular monitoring will continue, with increased surveillance implemented around forecast wet weather. 

Geotechnical investigations

Planning continues for commencement of detailed geotechnical investigations, with legal and procurement processes underway to coordinate works on public land and access for works on private land. Residents are being provided updates on this process.

Financial assistance regarding rates payments

Following the landslip event on 23 May, City of Newcastle proactively implemented measures for the impacted ratepayers.  Under the Act, financial assistance beyond the initial measures established, requires a resolution of Council and must be placed on Public Notice before it can be applied. At last night's Ordinary Council Meeting, a motion was carried unanimously to proceed with the next step, which is publishing a public notice for 28 days noting Council's intention to grant financial assistance to ratepayers impacted by the landslip incident.

A motion was also carried for the Lord Mayor to write to relevant Ministers requesting financial assistance be provided in the form of an 'Act of Grace Payment' under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 to the property owners impacted by the landslip.

Demolition order

City of Newcastle has issued a demolition order for one of the affected properties, following advice that the dwelling is at risk of structural collapse due to continued ground movement. This decision is not made lightly, but is necessary to prevent potential harm and reduce risk to surrounding environment, properties and infrastructure.

We understand the distress this may cause residents and will continue to work closely with the affected property owner to support them through this process.

Recovery

We continue to report weekly to the NSW Regional Recovery Committee and strongly advocate for formal involvement and support from the State Government's Reconstruction Authority.

The site remains a declared danger area and is subject to an active evacuation notice. Entry into the area continues to be restricted for safety reasons and must be coordinated through the LEOCON and LEMO. All affected properties remain within the designated danger zone. 

While the initial emergency response phase has concluded and the Emergency Operations Centre has been stood down, the site remains under the direction of the LEOCON as ground conditions remain active and potentially unstable. 

Emergency works were completed to seal visible ground surface cracks, improve surface water management, and reduce the risk of further ground movement or deterioration. These works also enable access for further geotechnical investigations. This detailed investigation is required to determine the cause of the landslip, assess ongoing risk, and guide recovery planning. 

Recent rainfall events have resulted in additional ground movement, demonstrating that the site remains unsafe. Regular monitoring will continue, with increased surveillance implemented around forecast wet weather. 

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. 

Emergency site works were undertaken late last week and early this week under the direction of the LEOCON. These works were planned as a preliminary measure to reduce the impacts of further rainfall on the site and the open scarp, as well as to provide entry for further geotechnical investigations. The work was undertaken before this week's heavy rainfall, and we continue to inspect the area and review the results of ground monitoring.

Affected residents should continue to engage directly with their insurer regarding claims to private property. 

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.

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.