Massive sinkhole opens up on Childers St, Kew East
A huge sinkhole — up to 5m deep and 12m wide and “growing” — has opened up at a reserve in Melbourne’s east, with emergency services setting up barricades around the crater.
Inner East
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A “growing” sinkhole has sparked a significant emergency services response in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs this afternoon.
The large sinkhole is in a parkland at the corner of Childers St and Park Crescent in Kew.
It is understood to be about 12m in diameter and approximately 5m deep.
The circular hole has continued to grow, with large chunks of turf collapsing in on the edges and falling into the water below.
Melbourne Water, Boroondara Council and SES crews were inspecting the hole but have been keeping their distance from the edge as the hole gets bigger.
The area has been taped off and bemused residents walking past in the pouring rain have been stopping to take pictures.
Kew East family Lisa and Ian Burton and their two children Timmy and Freddy said they had not seen anything like it.
They said the park was often used as a walkway next to a bus stop and it was lucky someone hadn’t been walking past when it formed.
Eight-year-old Timmy said he was surprised to see the sinkhole expanding.
“I was speechless. I literally couldn’t speak when I saw it,” he said.
“It’s the first sinkhole I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Victoria Police are on the scene assisting with barricades and traffic control in the area.
Carol and Michael Beary live opposite the park and reported the sinkhole to authorities when they first noticed it about 2pm.
“It’s like something you see on television,” Mrs Beary said.
“When I saw the hole I nearly had a fit.”
Within two hours it had doubled inside, she said.
“There were cracks all around and suddenly you’d see all these large bits just fall down.”
She said it was the first time she had seen a sinkhole in the 25 years they have lived there.
Before the area was cordoned off a few people had walked right up to the lip to peer down into the sinkhole, Mrs Beary said.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking.
“It’s fortunate no one was injured. On a nice day kids will run around and play over there and all that sort of stuff.”
Council contractors had used ride-on lawnmowers at the park on Tuesday, she said.
She said it wasn’t the first problem they have had with drainage at the site.
A few months ago a torrential downpour lifted the grate out of the ground, creating a safety hazard.
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