Caravans, car swallowed as Sunshine Coast sinkhole increases in size
UPDATE: Experts say erosion around the giant sinkhole near Rainbow Beach is continuing, while a new theory as to what caused it has been suggested. | SEE PICS, VIDEO
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THE giant sinkhole at a Queensland camping spot is now relatively stable and may have actually been a landslide, a geotechnical engineer says.
About 300 campers were evacuated from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach on Saturday night after the large cavity opened up and swallowed a caravan, car, trailer and tents.
“Preliminary advice is that the event may have been a ‘near shore landslide’ rather than a true sinkhole,” the Department of National Parks said in a statement on Monday.
The cavity is now about 200 metres long, 50 metres wide and up to nine metres deep.
A geotechnical engineer also advised the site is now relatively stable, with a flat beach edge forming.
Coastal erosion is still occurring, so more trees may fall down, and the exclusion zone has been expanded by 200 metres for safety reasons.
Camping grounds on either side of the site remain closed and the public has been urged to avoid the area, observe traffic barriers and warning signs.
All the school holiday campers escaped and no injuries were reported.
Geotechnical engineer Allison Golsby said the area has a history of sinkholes and should be closely monitored to warn of any further disasters.
She also said scientific reports indicate the entire peninsula could eventually fall away.
“People have said that at some stage they think Inskip Point may not be there,” she told ABC radio.
“Now that could be thousands of years; it could be hundreds of years.”
EARLIER: THE Queensland peninsular where an enormous sinkhole has opened up could eventually disappear, a geotechnical engineer says.
About 300 campers were evacuated from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach on Saturday night after the sinkhole swallowed a car, caravan, tents and a camping trailer.
Geotechnical engineer Allison Golsby says scientific reports indicate the entire peninsular could fall away.
“People have said that at some stage they think Inskip Point may not be there,” she told ABC radio.
“Now that could be thousands of years, it could be hundreds of years.” Ms Golsby says the area has a history of sinkholes and should be closely monitored to warn of any further disasters.
“The ideal answer is (it is) great to monitor because then we keep everybody in the right place and they won’t be put in a position like that,” she told ABC radio.
Geomechanics and geotechnical engineers are investigating the situation and should be able to ascertain what’s behind the sinkhole activity and whether the area can be stabilised, she said. The sinkhole is now estimated to have swallowed 200 metres of beachfront.
All the school holiday campers escaped and no injuries were reported.
Geotechnical engineers have completed an initial assessment and will conduct further inspections using a ground penetrating radar on Monday.
Campsites on either side of the sinkhole will remain closed until the area is properly assessed.
YESTERDAY:
A CAMPER at a popular beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has described the terrifying speed with which a sinkhole swallowed a car, caravan and camping trailer.
The 200x50m sinkhole opened up near the shore at the Inskip Point camping area, north of Rainbow Beach, about 10.30pm on Saturday.
Authorities say the sinkhole is 3m deep and takes a large chunk out of the MV Beagle camp site.
Camper Melanie Wotherspoon described her horror in a Facebook post.
“Yep, can’t believe we made it out,” Ms Wotherspoon wrote.
“I thought we were goners for sure, was truly scary how fast it came into our camp site and swallowed it up.”
A woman ran through nearby camp sites, screaming at people to wake up and get out, the ABC reports.
Police and SES crews raced to the site, evacuating 300 people and closing the campground.
No one was reported missing but on Sunday the RACQ CareFlight helicopter rescued a 24-year-old man after he nearly drowned in the surf.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife staff have cordoned off the camping area.
Other camping grounds at Inskip Point remain open but people are being warned to stay away from the sinkhole.
“There is a real possibility the hole could expand with ocean currents, so people are urged to avoid the area, senior ranger Dan Clifton said.
“While we continue to assess the situation, our priority is public safety.”
Holidaymakers who have booked at the MV Beagle camp site can call park authorities for alternative arrangements.
The sinkhole is the second to appear in four years at the spot, with a similar sized hole opening up in 2011.
EARLIER
A LARGE sinkhole which swallowed a car, camper trailer and caravan at Inskip Point could still grow bigger.
The hole opened up about 10.30pm prompting the evacuation of 140 people and senior ranger Dan Clifton said people should avoid the area as the hole could get larger.
The sinkhole is currently 100 metres wide and 100 metres long with a depth of three metres.
“There is a real possibility the hole could expand with ocean currents, so people are urged to avoid the area,” Mr Clifton said.
“Rangers and police have erected traffic barriers and warnings signs to advise beachgoers of potential risks.
“While we continue to assess the situation, our priority is public safety.
“The MV Beagle campsite has been closed to new campers, however there are six alternative campgrounds at Inskip that remain open.”
Campers who have booked at MV Beagle campsite can call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) to discuss alternative arrangements with QPWS.
Refunds will be offered to those who wish to cancel their booking.
EARLIER 7.30am: A sinkhole at Inskip Point, near Rainbow Beach has grown overnight.
Police said the hole is now 100 metres in length and 100 metres in width with a depth of three metres.
It has already swallowed a car and a caravan overnight as campers at the ground were forced to evacuate.
A police spokesman said officers had left the scene.
“We’ve cleared any campers in danger at the site,” he said.
“It’s now in the hands of National Parks, Sport and Racing.”
EARLIER12.30am: A SINKHOLE at a popular camping ground north of the Sunshine Coast has claimed two caravans as it continues to expand.
Police say a sinkhole began to form before 11pm at the Inskip Point camping grounds at Rainbow Beach near the water, before it began to expand.
The sinkhole is understood to have expanded rapidly towards the camping ground, currently measuring around 100 meters in length by 50 meters in width.
Police confirmed that all people involved with the two caravans have been accounted for and further evacuations of the camp ground have begun.
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