Residents wait months for fix after sinkholes open up in Aitkenvale, Hermit Park, Townsville after significant rainfall

Small, but deep sinkholes have been opening up across the city leaving residents concerned for kids walking home from school and unobservant drivers. Here’s why they formed.

Several sink holes have developed in a clump of streets in Aitkenvale. This sink hole is located on the corner of Warili and Wareham Streets. Picture: Evan Morgan

Small but deep sinkholes – big enough to lose a dog down – have been opening up in residential streets around Aitkenvale.

Residents have been left scratching their heads over the sinkholes, which they say started appearing after the March rainstorm.

“The roads were fine for the February floods, it was only after the March wet weather they started falling in,” homeowner Tara* said.

She said the local soil on the street was a “very good” sand mix that didn’t hold water.

“We have no clay here, it’s really absorbent, drains easily, and it does not flood here because the water drains away as soon as it stops raining.”

Several sink holes developed in several streets in Aitkenvale. This sink hole is deep and a black and blue pipe can be seen at the bottom. Picture: Evan Morgan

Tara said there were no potholes or any visible damage in the spots where the sinkholes eventually opened up.

The Townsville Bulletinhas also been informed of a similar ‘sinkhole’ in Hermit Park and another than recently opened up on a busy Flinders St intersection.

They collapsed in an identical way to the Aitkenvale holes, revealing a void underneath and exposed pipe.

The sinkhole in Flinders St is about one witches' hat deep and opens down onto an orange pipe. Motorists say it first appeared as a pretty bad pothole about a week ago.

Aitkenvale resident Jason Carr said the yet-to-be-filled sinkhole on the corner of Warili St was hard for motorists to see before the bollards went up because it was in the kerb and away from the driver’s side when turning in.

“I’ve also noticed they are appearing near the drains,” Mr Carr said of Aitkenvale’s sinkholes.

“Council has put road closed signs out but people just drive around them.”

Several sink holes developed in several streets in Aitkenvale. Resident Jason Carr in Rogers St. Picture: Evan Morgan

In 2016 Townsville City Council workers unearthed a sinkhole the size of a “family-sized swimming pool” in the CBD while digging a trench.

Assessments revealed the large sinkhole was created by an old brick stormwater pipe that failed, pouring water.

“This has gradually washed the surrounding soil, dirt and rock away and has created the big cavity under the ground,” council worker Simon Ormes said at the time.

The 2016 sinkhole on Stanley Street, created by a leaking stormwater pipe. Picture: Evan Morgan

A Rogers St resident, who didn’t wish to be named, said some of the recent sinkholes were big enough “you could climb in” and she often saw children on their way home from school hopping inside them for fun.

“The holes seem to be focused around the drains,” she said.

“I reckon what happened is the water table came right up to the road and the drains couldn’t cope with the run-off.”

Work has begun on sinkholes which opened up in the centre of the road. Residents estimate “about ten” holes popped up after the March rainfall in Aitkenvale. Picture: Evan Morgan

Neighbours Christine Pulvirenti and Sandra Fleming said they were a bit concerned some of the sinkholes had been left unfilled for more than two months.

“It took about a week for council to bring out the witches’ hats and barricade them off,” Mrs Pulvirenti said.

Sinkholes are created when flowing water erodes the dirt underground, creating a ‘void’ that the ground then collapses into when enough weight is placed on top.

Townsville City Council said it has repaired a number of sinkholes in Aitkenvale over the weekend (since Townsville Bulletin took the pictures), and further works were underway to patch up the remaining holes.

“The sinkholes have been caused by immense pressure on the city’s stormwater system during the year’s record-breaking rainfall events,” a council spokesman said.

“Anyone who sees sinkholes or any other issues that need repairs in Townsville should report the issue by using Snap Send Solve via the app or Council’s website, or by calling 13 48 10.”

Originally published as Residents wait months for fix after sinkholes open up in Aitkenvale, Hermit Park, Townsville after significant rainfall