An exclusion zone has been set up at a recreational reserve in Heidelberg, in Melbourne’s north-east, after a large sinkhole appeared on a sporting oval on Monday.
The ground caved in at AJ Burkitt Oval in Banyule Flats Reserve on Beverley Road.
Banyule Flats Reserve is used daily by locals for exercise and dog-walking. (Supplied: Montse Gonzalez)
Locals gathered at the oval on Monday evening, with many questioning whether underground tunnelling works for the North East Link road project caused the collapse.
A spokesperson for North East Link said it was aware of the sinkhole and confirmed it was in the vicinity of its tunnelling operations.
“The area is being secured, and we strongly advise people to avoid the area while investigations into the cause are underway,” they said.
Banyule Council also urged locals to stay away.
“Council is working closely with relevant agencies to assess the situation and determine what’s next.”
The North East Link road tunnel is being constructed underneath Banyule Reserve. (Supplied: North East Link)
Construction for the North East Link began in 2024 and passes underneath Banyule Flats.
When completed, the 6.5-kilometre underground road will be the longest twin tunnels in Victoria and, in parts, will run 45 metres underground.
The North East Link website shows one of its two boring machines — nicknamed Zelda and Gillian — is currently operating close to where the sinkhole has formed.
In February 2025, work came to a halt when a sinkhole formed during tunnelling works at Lower Plenty.
The North East Link website shows one of its boring machines is underneath Banyule Flats Reserve. (Supplied: North East Link)
Banyule Cricket Club president Brad Bowler said he initially thought photos on social media were fake.
“So, I went to look to make sure it was real, and I was trying to make sure no-one was hurt,” he said.
He said he was concerned about the number of children who were there looking at the hole.
“North East Link tunnel is going straight under the ground, and there’s been quite a few engineers and surveyors on the ground the last couple of weeks. [I’m] not sure why they were there.”
Mr Bowler said the club was now looking for another ground to play its home games this weekend, and he was concerned the oval would be out of action for the rest of the season.
“We’ve got 18 junior teams and half a dozen senior teams,” he said.
“It’s a big club.”
Emergency services have set up an exclusion zone around the sinkhole. (ABC News)
Banyule Bears Football and Netball Club president Andrew Yodgee said it was a popular area for locals, with many people walking dogs and exercising there each day in addition to the sports clubs.
“That ground’s constantly used,” he said.
“It was very fortunate and lucky that there was no-one standing on it or walking on it, or a game being played.
“It’s lucky it wasn’t a house.”
Mr Yodgee said he was waiting to hear how much damage had been caused.
“Your guess is as good as mine as far as what happens here on in and the impact it’s going to have on the football club,” he said.
Authorities are urging residents not to go on the oval after a sinkhole formed at Banyule Flats reserve. (ABC News)
Residents on social media and those using the reserve on Tuesday morning questioned whether the North East Link works had caused the new sinkhole.
Nadine lives near Banyule Flats and regularly exercises around the oval.
She said she now felt nervous jogging through the reserve.
“I guess we’ll always have that now, knowing there’s a sinkhole that’s opened up so close to where we come most days,” she said.
“I’m hoping that we don’t see them opening all the way through the North East Link project.”
Bao walks around the reserve most days.
“It’s something very close and I spend some time around there often. It’s a little bit scary,” he said.
He said he hoped the sinkhole did not grow larger.
Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure Evan Mulholland called on the Victorian government to be transparent with investigations into the cause of the sinkhole and the cost of remediation.
“And assure Victorians that this won’t happen again,” he said.
“This is not normal, and the government has some explaining to do.”
The ABC has contacted the state government for comment.