Residents of a $7 million block of Gold Coast townhouses have been left feeling unsafe after their backyards completely slipped away, leaving exposed concrete, timber and foundations.
Only one of about 20 townhouses was impacted when Fairfax Media initially investigated retaining wall collapses across south-east Queensland last month.
![The Palm Beach retaining wall slippage has worsened since Fairfax Media's first visit.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170729152246im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/k/a/b/e/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gxk9me.png/1501208059997.jpg)
As of this week, four units were badly impacted.
Now they are calling for a public meeting, so the Gold Coast City Council and Queensland's Housing Department can advise them what is happening.
![Four ground floor units at Palm Beach Elanora are now affected.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170729152246im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/k/9/s/x/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gxk9me.png/1501208059997.jpg)
The four units have been roped off, soil has almost completely collapsed away from the back doors and timber framework is exposed or left sitting destroyed on the ground.
A walkway along the concrete path in council parkland behind the units is badly broken and has collapsed. A safety fence is still in place and is now locked.
John, a computer programmer who did not want his surname published, lived in one of the four affected townhouses.
"I don't think we feel particularly safe when you see the soil keep disappearing at the back here," he said.
![What's left of the residents' yards.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170729152246im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/k/9/s/y/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gxk9me.png/1501208059997.jpg)
"The soil just keeps slipping away, which is pretty scary."
John said other families had told him their children were concerned they could no longer play outside.
"We are more fortunate than most of the other people here, because we don't have children," he said.
"But they just can't let them outside to play."
John, along with two other residents who preferred not to be named, said they were losing faith in authorities getting any repairs done.
"What's happened doesn't give you much confidence really," John said.
John said he and his partner moved in six months ago.
"There was some movement when we first moved in, but now it's worse and it is still spreading and sinking," he said.
The retaining wall that held back gardens and soil collapsed twice since last July and has been left abandoned since it collapsed again in late March.
Matthew Berquist is a "very worried " surveyor who lives in a home immediately above the stricken units at Elanora, near Palm Beach. He and his young family have lived there since 2014.
His back fence is a common boundary with the first unit where soil began to collapse.
Now that fence is loosening as the soil continues to slip away.
"I am bloody nervous," Mr Berquist said.
"Because at the end of the day a retaining wall is supposed to stop subsidence.
"I don't know who is right and who is wrong. I'm just a poor little old property owner who is looking at paying out thousands and thousands of dollars in repairs for something that is not my fault."
Mr Berquist said "at the very least" a public meeting should be held to let residents know what is happening.
The Gold Coast City Council, Queensland's Building and Construction Commission, Housing Minister Mick de Brenni and Queensland's Board of Professional Engineers have been investigating since March 2017.
Most of the residents at the Palm Beach complex rented their townhouses.
Advertising described the complex as "designed and crafted to reflect the quality of long-term tenancy expectations" with appeal to families.
"The owner's demand for family lifestyle is paramount in this ideal location, overlooking parkland with a communal BBQ area that expels the entertainment atmosphere of this brand new vibrant community," the advertisement went.
While four townhouses were badly impacted, those uphill appeared to be in good condition.
A spokesman for Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said the council "did not believe it was at fault for the land slippage".
"Soil tests show the soil in the area is classified as uncontrolled fill," he said.
"We are unable to comment any further at this stage except to say that council does not believe at present that it is responsible for the landslip and is taking action to minimise damage."
Mr de Brenni and Queensland Building and Construction Commission chief executive Brett Bassett, a former fraud examiner, were unable to answer questions on Thursday due to budget estimates hearing, a staff member said.
Frustrated unit owner Dan Russell said he attended an on-site meeting with QBCC investigators, the council, senior design staff and representatives of the builders about seven weeks ago.
"I have heard a word from any of them since," he said.
"None of them and that was seven weeks ago.
"They all promised they would keep me informed, but I've heard nothing."
Mr Russell said he felt "bitterly disappointed" at the slow pace of any investigation.
"It has just been a band-aid response down there and no-one has taken responsibility," he said.
Mr Russell said he had started negotiations with his insurance company.
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