Home / Disasters and Accidents / Melbourne Field Collapses Near Major Tunnel Project
Melbourne Field Collapses Near Major Tunnel Project
6 Jan
Summary
- A sinkhole 5 meters deep appeared at A J Burkitt oval.
- The sinkhole is approximately 8 by 8 meters in size.
- No injuries were reported following the ground collapse.
A large sinkhole has emerged at A J Burkitt oval in Melbourne's north-east, close to where tunnel boring machines are working on the North East Link project. The sinkhole is approximately 5 metres deep and measures about 8 metres by 8 metres, prompting authorities to cordon off the area for public safety. No injuries have been reported as a result of the collapse.
The incident is occurring in the vicinity of the North East Link's two tunnel boring machines, Zelda and Gillian. The construction consortium, Spark, has taken control of the site to conduct assessments. This event draws parallels to a previous incident in February where a deeper sinkhole halted tunnelling operations.
The North East Link project aims to connect the Eastern Freeway with the Metropolitan Ring Road via 10km of roadway, including 6.5km of tunnels, with an expected opening in 2028. Officials are monitoring the situation closely and investigating the cause of the sinkhole, assuring the public there is no immediate threat to the community.
