Box Hill sinkhole has been filled

Last week north-west Sydney residents were fearing their homes could be “swallowed” up. But The Hills Council says the sinkhole has been filled.

A sinkhole in Box Hill on Limerick St has been fixed by The Hills Council, which has assured residents their homes are not at risk. Picture: AAP IMAGE / Angelo Velardo

• Box Hill sinkhole: Hills Council confirms homes are safe
• Limerick St, Box Hill: Large sink hole sparks fears of house collapse

The Hills Council says a sinkhole that last week had Box Hill residents fearing their homes could be “swallowed” up, has been filled.

A massive downpour on February 9 saw an old farm dam – on Limerick St in the new Eden Garden residential estate – break its banks.

It created a sinkhole about 3x2m, forcing residents to avoid driving up the street.

On February 25, Suzanne Phillips said she and her neighbours contacted the council and the developer behind the newly completed multimillion-dollar development, Silverstone.

Raymond, Suzanne and their daughter Mia Phillips inspect the sinkhole on their street in Box Hill on Monday, February 24. Picture: AAP IMAGE / Angelo Velardo

But three weeks passed and the hole continued to grow.

“I am terrified that my daughter will be sleeping in her bed and the walls could cave in,” Mrs Phillips said.

“We are just 30m from the hole, which now stretches underneath Limerick St.”

On February 27, the council said the developer had started work on fixing the sinkhole,telling residents the area was being monitored, with restoration work “expected to be finished in the coming days”.

The sinkhole in Limerick St, Box Hill has been filled. Picture: Supplied

A council spokeswoman said the downpour caused the dam on Limerick St to fill and then “overtop”.

“The dam overflowed and the stormwater run-off caused damage to the footpath, a small section of public road, the stormwater pipe under the road and the front yard of the adjacent dwelling under construction,” the spokeswoman said.

“The affected area was cordoned off immediately and the developer responsible for the works on the property containing the dam upstream was directed by council to de-water the dam to stop further run-off, and to also fix the damage to the stormwater pipe under the road and backfill the affected area.”

The council spokeswoman assured residents no homes were at risk.

She told the Times the builder responsible for the adjacent dwelling under construction was also contacted.

“The affected portion of the road was cordoned off and remains cordoned off,” she said.

“The road itself remains open and safe for all road users. There are no dwellings at risk.”

The sinkhole was filled by the developer last Thursday, February 27.