Most people are unaware of how much of a problem landslides may be in their own local area, according to a pamphlet released today by the Minister for Resources and Energy, Senator the Hon Warwick Parer, and the Minister for Defence, the Hon Ian McLachlan. In September last year, five adults and four children were killed in a cliff collapse near Gracetown in Western Australia. The pamphlet is aimed at improving public awareness and understanding of the risks posed by landslides. Forty-three Australian landslides are known to have killed or injured people since 1842. At least 74 have died as a result.
Children seem to be particularly at risk.
Four of the six fatal landslides since the beginning of last year have involved children being killed by falling or toppling rocks. More than 200 buildings have been damaged or destroyed by landslides. Many of these have been family homes. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage has also been done to our public assets such as roads, railways and other infrastructure. The pamphlet was being developed before tragedy struck at Thredbo, and the events at Thredbo have emphasised the need for public education on landslides.