For families displaced by the New Lambton landslide, Christmas 2025 marked a painful and unwanted milestone. More than seven months after being evacuated from their homes, more than a dozen households spent the festive season in temporary accommodation, unable to celebrate in the houses they once called home.
A Festive Season in Displacement
Leonie Morgan is among the residents whose life was upended by the major landslip that struck on May 23, 2025. The disaster destroyed properties and caused widespread community distress in the Newcastle suburb.
"Christmas was difficult," Ms Morgan said. "For my two youngest boys this was the first Christmas they have not been at home. For the older two, the first they can remember." The family had lived in their home for 19 years before the ground gave way.
The New Year's Eve tradition was also broken. Ms Morgan explained that neighbours would typically gather at the brow of the hill with their children to watch fireworks. "It was a lovely time to catch up but that won't happen this year," she lamented in late 2025.
Homes Ravaged and Future Uncertain
A total of 16 properties across Russell Road, Baker Street, Victoria Street, and Portland Place remain evacuated. The situation has been compounded by looting, with affected homes broken into and possessions stolen. Ms Morgan revealed that early Christmas presents she had purchased were among the items taken from her property.
The ground conditions are still considered active and potentially unstable. All affected properties sit within a designated danger zone, and access continues to be heavily restricted by authorities.
Ms Morgan is currently in temporary rental accommodation but faces uncertainty, with the arrangement only guaranteed until July 2026. The community's future hinges on the findings of a crucial geotechnical report into the landslide, which is expected to be released in early 2026.
Political Tensions Over Response Leadership
The path to recovery has been fraught with political disagreement over responsibility. The City of Newcastle has repeatedly asked the NSW state government's Reconstruction Authority to take the lead on the landslide response and offer direct support to residents.
However, the state government maintains that the primary responsibility lies with the local council. This stalemate has drawn criticism from local representatives.
Newcastle Greens councillor Siobhan Isherwood criticised NSW Recovery Minister Janelle Saffin for visiting Newcastle in December 2025 without meeting the displaced residents. "Minister Saffin's first priority should be to the people impacted by declared natural disasters," Cr Isherwood said.
A spokesperson for Minister Saffin responded that the Minister "actively engages" with Newcastle council on the issue and has met with council representatives and residents on multiple occasions. The spokesperson stated all parties await the council's technical report "so that landowners, council and the government can have an informed discussion about next steps."
In a December update, the City of Newcastle said it remained "committed to working with the impacted residents and neighbours as recovery efforts continue." The council acknowledged the distress caused by the uncertainty and promised to provide clear updates and maintain individual contact with those affected.
