A giant sinkhole that opened up at a popular sports oval in Melbourne's north-east has finally been filled, but the method and secrecy of the repair operation have sparked debate and disappointment within the local community.
Nighttime Operation Raises Eyebrows
The gaping void at Heidelberg's A J Burkitt Oval was filled with concrete by workers who arrived under the cover of darkness on Friday night, just five days after it first appeared. The sight of cement trucks and black curtains shrouding the site after hours struck many as unusual.
"There were black curtains put around it and everything was sort of done at night ... it was a bit strange really," said Tim Brady from the Banyule Cricket Club, which calls the oval home. The club has been forced to abandon the ground for the remainder of the season, scrambling to find an alternative venue for training and matches.
Cricket Season Called Off, Football Hopes Remain
For the Banyule Cricket Club, the damage is already done. "It's us done on that oval for the season, unfortunately. It looks like the next couple of months for us is curtains," Brady lamented. He also expressed concern about the long-term appearance of the ground, worrying it would end up looking "like a patchwork quilt" once new turf is laid over the concrete plug.
While the cricket season is a write-off, officials are hopeful the oval will be restored and match-ready in time for the upcoming football season. The current plan involves waiting for the concrete to set before it is removed and replaced with soil and fresh turf.
Community Divided Over Concrete Solution
The repair strategy has divided local residents. Some have questioned why concrete was chosen over simply refilling the hole with soil. "Literally, I would have thought maybe there's enough soil around that they could fill it with soil rather than concrete," one Heidelberg local remarked.
Others, however, are adopting a more pragmatic view, relieved that no one was injured. "In hindsight, no one's hurt, so it looks like they've got it under control. It's all fenced off," another resident noted.
The sinkhole, which emerged last Tuesday, appeared just metres from a boring site associated with the massive North East Link Tunnel Project, immediately raising questions about a potential link. A spokesperson for the project confirmed that tunnelling works have been paused while WorkSafe investigates the cause of the collapse.
