A significant sinkhole has suddenly appeared at a popular sports field in Melbourne's north-east, causing local disruption and prompting an urgent investigation. The cavity, measuring several metres across, was discovered on Tuesday at AJ Burkitt Oval in Heidelberg.
Project Link and Expert Analysis
The sinkhole emerged close to where massive tunnel-boring machines are excavating the $26 billion (£20bn) North East Link road project. VIDA Roads, the Victorian government body managing the project, has conceded that the tunnelling activity likely played a part. Chief executive Duncan Elliott stated they were confident the machines were "a contributing factor, not necessarily caused the problem, but certainly a contributing factor."
Infrastructure engineering expert Professor Guillermo Narsilio from the University of Melbourne explained to AAP that human activities like tunnelling can accelerate the formation of such holes. However, he emphasised that sinkholes are a global phenomenon, often underreported elsewhere compared to Australia. "Sinkholes happen everywhere, but we tend to notice those in urban settings just because we are here to see them," he said.
Why Sinkholes Form and Future Risks
Geotechnical engineering specialist Dr Francois Guillard from the University of Sydney described sinkholes as hidden underground cavities that collapse when the ceiling can no longer support itself. "That's usually when you see the sinkhole emerging at the surface," he explained.
While sinkholes commonly form in areas with soluble rock like limestone, Professor Narsilio noted much of Australia lacks such geology near the surface. He warned that a combination of factors is increasing their frequency. "As population grows and infrastructure ages, like leaking water pipes, together with changes in weather patterns and heavier rainfall, we are going to learn of more sinkhole appearances globally," he cautioned.
This incident echoes a 2017 event in Sydney's Point Piper, where a 15m by 3m sinkhole near former PM Malcolm Turnbull's home led to four properties being evacuated.
Project Details and Safety
Fortunately, no one was injured by the Heidelberg sinkhole. The nearby North East Link project, which began works in 2024, involves building 6.5km twin road tunnels approximately 45 metres underground beneath Banyule Reserve. Local games have been disrupted and residents are advised to avoid the area as investigations continue into the precise cause of the collapse.
