Safety fears have been ignited around Melbourne's massive North East Link project after a significant sinkhole opened up near its tunnelling works in the city's northeast.
Ground Collapses at Heidelberg Reserve
The incident occurred late on Monday night at the AJ Burkitt Reserve in Heidelberg. The ground collapsed, leaving behind a substantial hole estimated to be about 10 metres wide and several metres deep. By Tuesday morning, locals had gathered at the perimeter of an exclusion zone set up by authorities, with many directing concerns towards the state government's multi-billion dollar tunnel project.
The Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA), the government body managing the project, confirmed it is aware of the surface hole. "The area has been secured and crews are closely monitoring the site and surrounding areas," a VIDA spokesperson said. They strongly advised the public to avoid the reserve while investigations determine the cause.
Tunnel Boring Machines Directly Underneath
The timing and location of the collapse are particularly notable. The North East Link project, touted as the biggest ever investment in Melbourne's north east, involves building 6.5km of tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen. Two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have been carving out the path since 2024 and are scheduled to pass directly underneath the very reserve where the sinkhole appeared.
Publicly available tracking data on the Victoria's Big Build website showed that, prior to the incident, both machines were located approximately 100 metres north of the field and travelling south towards Bulleen. VIDA has stated that no injuries have been reported and there is no immediate threat to nearby homes or the community.
History Repeats with Previous Sinkhole
This is not the first time the project has encountered ground stability issues. In February 2025, another sinkhole formed at an old army barracks site in Lower Plenty. That hole, measuring 18 metres deep and 1 metre wide, forced a pause in TBM operations and required surface remediation works.
Such disruptions have contributed to the project's escalating costs. Initially estimated at $10 billion in 2016, the budget was reassessed in November to a staggering $26 billion.
The local Banyule City Council has echoed the warnings from VIDA, urging residents to stay away from AJ Burkitt Reserve until further notice. "Council is working closely with relevant agencies to assess the situation and determine what's next," a council statement read, promising updates as information becomes available.
