Bosses at Aberdeenshire council have written to the Scottish Government - asking them to fund work at 'Bervie Braes'.
There are concerns about a serious landslide - with some 70 houses nearby.
An expert report says a 'soil nailing' scheme should prevent landslips at the site - the local authority don't own the land, but say they want to be sure a solution can be found.
The work required is more extensive than a similar project in Pennan, where landslips in 2007 meant locals had to be evacuated.