Client: VIDA ROads (Formerly Major Road Projects Victoria)
Bogong High Plains Road Landslip Remediation
2023 - 2024
In October 2022, a major active landslip was identified on Bogong High Plains Road between Mt Beauty and Falls Creek above Bogong Village. Estimated at approximately 70 metres high and 100 metres wide, the failure represented one of the largest landslips experienced on Victoria’s road network in more than 40 years and resulted in the closure of a critical alpine transport corridor.
Following initial stabilisation works undertaken by the Department of Transport and Planning, Whelans Group was engaged to deliver the interim remediation works and restore controlled access across the site. A temporary single-lane corridor was successfully established across the face of the landslip in April 2023, allowing limited traffic access to be reinstated while permanent remediation works progressed.
Whelans subsequently delivered the major stabilisation program, involving large-scale earthworks, drainage reconstruction and the removal of approximately 600,000 tonnes of unstable material within a highly constrained alpine environment. The works required complex geotechnical management, detailed environmental controls and disciplined program coordination to safely operate within a dynamic landslip zone.
Two-lane access was successfully restored on 27 May 2024, ahead of the winter ski season, re-establishing a critical connection between Mount Beauty, Bogong Village and Falls Creek. Final works included stabilisation of maintenance access tracks, site rehabilitation and permanent infrastructure upgrades supporting the long-term resilience of the corridor.
The project demonstrated Whelans Group’s capability to deliver largescale geotechnical remediation within environmentally sensitive alpine terrain while restoring essential transport connectivity under significant program pressure.
We were proud to receive the Civil Contractors Federation Victoria 2025 Earth Award in the Project Value up to $150M category for this project.
A huge thank you went to our innovative client, VIDA Roads (formerly Major Road Projects Victoria), and the dedicated and nimble design team at WSP in Australia. Together, we showcased what was achievable, with construction and design occurring in parallel from the outset to get the road reopened to Falls Creek.
Most importantly, we acknowledged our teams on the ground – those that relocated for the works, their families, and those that operated machinery. This was a difficult job but without the dedication, hard work, and commitment from our team, it could not have been achieved.
As we celebrated 50 years in the business this year, we continued to build on this incredible recognition and looked forward to making it happen.
