Sinkhole Emerges at Rockdale Industrial Building Amid M6 Tunnel Construction Halt

A sinkhole has unexpectedly appeared at an industrial building in Rockdale, Sydney, linked to the ongoing construction of the M6 tunnel, prompting a temporary halt in tunnelling activities. The incident, which occurred early in the morning, led to the evacuation of around 20 individuals from the site.

The Australian Workers Union, represented by Steve Ackerman, emphasized the swift response in ensuring worker safety amid the collapse. Fire and Rescue New South Wales and Transport for New South Wales swiftly set up an exclusion zone around the affected building due to ground subsidence and potential structural issues.

During the construction work inside the M6 tunnel, workers noticed material falling from the tunnel’s crown, prompting the immediate evacuation of workers from the tunnel area. Camilla Drover from Transport for New South Wales mentioned that further investigations were underway to ascertain the cause of the sinkhole.

Dr. Francois Guillard from the University of Sydney highlighted the rarity of sinkholes forming due to construction activities, mentioning that human involvement in urban areas could contribute to such incidents. The sinkhole’s development, which normally takes months or years to reach its size, has raised questions about any potential underground connections to the M6 tunnel.

The authorities are actively monitoring the situation and have set up laser equipment to track any movement in the building. Transport for New South Wales confirmed that remediation work would commence once the area was deemed safe for operations.

With no reported injuries and road closures currently not in effect, the focus remains on ensuring the stability of the affected site and resuming construction activities safely as soon as possible. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing situation in Sydney.