Tunnelling has paused on Victoria’s $26bn North East Link after a large sinkhole emerged near the project’s two boring machines at a sporting field in Melbourne’s north-east.
Pictures on social media show the large hole at A J Burkitt oval in Heidelberg. It is about 5 metres deep and measures about 8 metres by 8 metres, according to the State Emergency Service.
Transport officials say no injuries or property damage has been reported but the area has been cordoned off, with the public warned to avoid the site.
The North East Link’s website shows that the project’s two boring machines, named Zelda and Gillian, are located north of the oval.
The state’s transport minister, Gabrielle Williams, confirmed the construction of the project was being investigated as one of the causes of the sinkhole.
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“Importantly, there’s no immediate risks to the community or residences in that in that area,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
Duncan Elliott, chief executive at Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority Roads (Vida), said tunnelling works had been paused and would not proceed until the “very big” investigation into the incident was complete.
“We’re taking a very cautious approach to this issue. We understand this has had an impact on the community and the sporting clubs in this area,” he told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
Elliot said it was too early to say what caused the sinkhole.
He said Vida was confident that the boring machines had been a contributing factor, but may not have caused the issue.
Banyule city council, which takes in Heidelberg, said it was aware of a sinkhole at the reserve and warned people to avoid the area until further notice.
“For everyone’s safety, Victoria Police have cordoned off the affected area,” the council said in a social media post.
The construction consortium delivering the infrastructure project, Spark, has taken control of the site to undertake assessments, the council said on Tuesday morning.
Last February, an 18-metre deep sinkhole that emerged near Zelda and Gillian, close tothe worksite at Lower Plenty, halted tunnelling on the project.
The two boring machines are operated 24 hours a day by a crew of up to 20 people, the project’s website says.
The North East Link will connect the Eastern Freeway at Bulleen with the Metropolitan Ring Road at Greensborough.
The road will stretch 10km and include 6.5km of tunnels.
The government estimates the North East Link will take about 15,000 trucks off local roads each day and reduce travel times by up to 35 minutes.
It is expected to open in 2028.
A North East Link spokesperson said it was aware of a surface hole in Heidelberg, which “is in the vicinity of our tunnelling operations”.
“The area has been secured and crews are closely monitoring the site and surrounding areas – and we strongly advise people to avoid the area while investigations into the cause are under way,” the spokesperson said.
“No injuries have been reported and there is no immediate threat to the community or residential properties.”
