Fears more sinkholes could appear near tunnel project
Allanah Sciberras |
Residents fear more sinkholes could emerge after part of a recreational reserve collapsed near a major tunnel infrastructure project.
The sinkhole, several metres wide, was discovered at AJ Burkitt Oval in Heidelberg, in Melbourne’s northeast, close to where tunnel-boring machines are digging the $26 billion North East Link project.
No one was injured, though residents have said they are worried about the impact on nearby homes and surrounds.
Michelle Giovas, president of community group Friends of Banyule, told AAP she was shocked and disappointed by news of the sinkhole.
She is demanding answers about what caused the collapse and whether it is linked to the tunnel boring works.
“This happened on a public space and it’s pretty hazardous,” she says.
Ms Giovas fears more sinkholes could emerge nearby.
Tunnel expert Arnold Dix, who helped rescue 41 trapped miners in India in 2023, says those concerns are valid.
“If I lived around here I’d be concerned,” Professor Dix told reporters.
“I’d be saying we were promised a first rate, top tier tunnel and now we’ve got a pond in the middle of our cricket pitch.”
Prof Dix said it was lucky no one was playing on the oval at the time, noting the situation could have been far worse.
While he does not know the cause, he said the sinkhole appears to be located in a low part of the floodplain, which may be a factor.
An exclusion zone remains in place, with locals warned to stay away, despite many gathering outside the area to photograph the pit.
Sheldon and Emilia Williams have lived in the area for 50 years, and said they’ve never seen a sinkhole this large.
“Everyone is nervous. Is their home safe?,” Ms Williams told reporters.
“It could have happened anywhere. This tunnel travels underneath roads, schools, you just don’t know. If you’re dealing with tunnels anything can happen.”
The sinkhole is located near the North East Link road tunnel, which began work in 2024 and is being constructed underneath Banyule Reserve.
Once completed, the 6.5km tunnels will run 45 metres underground.
The North East Link website shows its tunnel boring machines are operating close to where the sinkhole formed.
Local residents say they had seen surveyors from the project at the ground shortly before Christmas and over the past week.
Multiple sporting clubs use the reserve, including the Banyule Cricket Club, whose president Brad Bowler initially thought the photos circulating on social media were fake.
He told reporters nearly a dozen local cricket teams train at the oval during the week, making it one of Melbourne’s largest clubs.
“It’s a busy part of the surrounds and to have this taken away from us will cause disruption at the club,” Mr Bowler said.
“There’s nowhere for them, we’ll try and find grounds because we lost some from the North East Link development.”
A spokesperson for the project said it was aware the sinkhole had emerged near tunnelling operations.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson urged the state government to be upfront with residents about the North East Link.
“What we see here, last night the scenes of local residents on a nice summer’s evening out at the park with their dogs and suddenly a sinkhole develops because of the mismanagement of the North East Link project,” she said.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams on Tuesday confirmed the tunnel-boring machines had stopped to allow space for an investigation into whether the sinkhole is linked to the project.
“Importantly, there’s no immediate risks to the community or residences in that area. The site has been secured,” she said.
In February 2025, construction for the project was halted after the discovery of a sinkhole near its Lower Plenty worksite.
AAP
