Residents in Kiama Place, Merimbula, got a nasty surprise when the sinkhole opened up in the middle of their street forcing council to restrict Kiama Place to one lane with traffic hazard signs, witches hats and bunting in place notifying motorists of the need to drive carefully.

A council worker was at the scene on Monday afternoon investigating the area in an attempt to determine the cause of the sinkhole, but at the time of going to press it was still unknown. 

Council said the stormwater drains and infrastructure around the hole were in good shape which eliminated water seepage. 

While the hole in the tarmac was only half a metre in diameter, the sinkhole extended a long way underneath the tarmac. A council worker said it was about a metre wide and two to three metres long. He also estimated that it was approximately a metre and a half deep. 

Residents of Kiama Place said they first noticed a depression in the road on Saturday morning but it wasn't until Monday, that the hole appeared. 

Council began work at around 7.30am on Tuesday, August 4, to repair the sinkhole, which has been filled and compacted and after a few days of settling will be sealed. 

Residents in Kiama Place are worried that there may be an underlying problem with the area as this is the second sinkhole that has been spotted in Kiama Place. 

The other sinkhole, which was first spotted around December 2014, was reported to council. A council spokesman said that staff didn't believe there was any connection between the holes but added that works to repair the second hole were scheduled to begin next week.