Crews examine second sinkhole at 208 Primary School

By Riverine Herald

Oct 27, 2022

Aerial view: A sinkhole on the oval at 208 Echuca Primary School. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

Geotechnical engineers are on the scene at 208 Echuca Primary School after a sinkhole emerged on the school’s oval on Tuesday.

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A return for students to the classroom has been pushed back to Wednesday, November 2, with the Emergency Services Commander declaring the site unsafe.

“It is my understanding that the sinkholes have been caused by old sewer inspection pits collapsing due to localised flooding,” acting principal Andrew Judd said in a statement to parents on Wednesday.

“It is likely that the pits were backfilled with river sand, and this has washed out leading to the development of sinkholes.

“There are two inspection pits on our oval and Coliban Water are currently working to rectify the situation.”

Mr Judd then provided a further update for parents on Thursday.

“A geotechnical engineer will be assessing the safety on the oval before we are able to use it again,” he said.

“Works to repair the sewer mains and sinkholes on the oval will also continue.

“I do not have a definitive timeline for the completion of these works.”

Mr Judd said the back of the facility would be fenced off and students would not have access to the oval when they returned to school.

It is the second sinkhole to emerge in as many weeks after the first appeared in the car park via Anstruther St on October 14.

By Riverine Herald

RIV Herald