UPDATE:
Specialist Fire and Rescue NSW crew worked over the weekend to introduce a large pour of concrete to shore up a building in West Botany Street, Rockdale that was in danger of collapsing into a major sinkhole.
The building was monitored by laser equipment to detect further movement in the structure while remedial work was carried out.
"No further movement was detected and we handed over the site to the building managers about midnight Sunday," a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said.
A sinkhole about 10-metres wide and 18-metres deep opened beneath the office building next to the M6 construction site in the early hours of Friday morning (March 1).
A total of 20 firefighters including Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) specialists, and six fire trucks were called out to the site at about 6.30am.
A section of ground had subsided, causing part of the 150-metre long two-level office block to sag in the middle due to substantial subsidence and appear unstable.
The site is occupied by an office building at the front and multi-occupancy warehouses at the rear.
About 20 people were evacuated unharmed from the rear of the site. No-one was inside the office building at the time.
Workers in the M6 tunnel were evacuated after they saw a small tricket of material falling into the construction site, the Australian Workers Union said.
"It got progressively worse. So the decision was made correctly, to see staff work to move workers into a safe location away from that," an AWU spokesperson said.
Workers will not return to the site until it was declared safe.
Engineers from Public Works, SafeWork Australia and M6 contractors worked on a plan to shore up the building over the weekend from collapsing into the sinkhole.
Firefighters set up laser monitoring equipment to detect possible further movement in the building and assessments are also being assisted by FRNSW's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or drones.
The site was secured and will remain closed to the public while remedial work is completed.
The cause of the sinkhole is unclear.
Transport for NSW will investigate any connection between the subsidence and the M6 works.
UPDATE: Firefighters have set up laser monitoring equipment to detect possible further movement in the building in West Botany Street, Rockdale which is in danger of collapsing into a sinkhole.
Those assessments are also being assisted by FRNSW's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or drones.
FRNSW experts are working with their colleagues across government and industry to assess the extent of the collapse and establish the cause.
An exclusion zone is currently in place and the community is urged to avoid the area; however, at this stage, all roads and public footpaths in the area remain open.
Specialist Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews are at the scene of a partial building collapse at Rockdale around 6.30am this morning.
20 firefighters, including Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) specialists, and six fire trucks responded to the incident in an industrial park in West Botany Street. A section of ground has subsided, causing a large two-level office block to sag in the middle and appear unstable.
Approximately 20 people were evacuated from the area; however, no-one was inside the building at the time.
A multi-agency operation is now underway at the site.
EARLIER:
Engineers from Public Works, SafeWork Australia and contractors are working on a plan to shore up the building that is in danger of collapsing due to the sinkhole at West Botany Street, Rockdale.
The work may involve a number of options including pouring a large amount of concrete.
The site is occupied by an office building at the front and multi-occupancy warehouses at the rear.
Part of the 150-metre long office building is sagging due to substantial subsidence.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said attempts to shore up the building will be a protracted exercise.
EARLIER
Fire and Rescue NSW has set up an exclusion zone on West Botany Street after a building became destabilised, showing signs of structural collapse.
The office building in an industrial park is at risk of collapse after a sinkhole opened under it and in the adjacent car park on Thursday night, February 29.
A total of 20 firefighters including Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) specialists, and six fire trucks responded to the incident at about 6.30am on Friday morning.
A section of ground has subsided, causing a large two-level office block to sag in the middle and appear unstable. About 20 people were evacuated from the area but no-one was inside the building at the time.
Workers turned up at 6am on Friday morning and were turned away at the gate.
Firefighters have set up laser monitoring equipment to detect possible further movement in the affected building. Those assessments are also being assisted by FRNSW's Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or drones.
A multi-agency operation is underway. FRNSW experts are working across government and industry to assess the extent of the collapse and establish the cause. Engineers are also determining a plan on how to shore up the building.
An exclusion zone is in place and the community is urged to avoid the area but at this stage, all roads and public footpaths in the area remain open.
The building is next to the M6 building site. It is not know if the sinkhole is linked to the M6 construction.
