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7NEWS Sydney takes you on exclusive look inside the crumbling, waterlogged M6 tunnel

For the first time, 7NEWS will fly you down the sinkhole right into the heart of the damage zone, which has halted the south Sydney road project. 
Sarina AndaloroBy Sarina Andaloro
They’re the ‘restricted’ underground drone pictures the state government really didn’t want you to see.  Credit: 7NEWS

7NEWS Sydney takes you on exclusive look inside the crumbling, waterlogged M6 tunnel

For the first time, 7NEWS will fly you down the sinkhole right into the heart of the damage zone, which has halted the south Sydney road project. 
Sarina AndaloroBy Sarina Andaloro

They’re the ‘restricted’ underground drone pictures the state government really didn’t want you to see.

And when you watch them tonight on Sydney’s 7NEWS at 6pm, you’ll see exactly why.

The M6 tunnel is crumbling, waterlogged with machines buried under piled up rubble and a giant leaking hole in the roof.

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For the first time, 7NEWS will fly you down the sinkhole through a mostly carved out cavern right into the heart of the damage zone, which has halted the south Sydney road project.

The M6 tunnel is crumbling, waterlogged with machines buried under piled up rubble and a giant leaking hole in the roof.  Credit: 7NEWS

The extraordinary images are helping engineers get to the bottom of how it all happened.

A 7NEWS freedom of information fight, has unearthed these pictures.

It started back in March after a tip off: The sinkhole aftermath videos were secret and the directive was, they were not to be shown publicly.

It was ultimately decided by legal officers that they should be:

“Disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to promote open discussion… enhance Government accountability, or contribute to positive and informed debate on issues of public importance.”

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So, let’s have that discussion.

For the first time, 7NEWS will fly you down the sinkhole through a mostly carved out cavern right into the heart of the damage zone. Credit: 7NEWS

The contractor CPB refused our requests for comment last week.

They’ve previously said publicly the sinkhole was caused by “unique adverse ground conditions caused by a complex faulting zone… never before seen in the Sydney basin”.

Whether they are at fault or liable for costs, we’re told, turns on whether that is actually the case.

The road opening is now delayed until late 2028, but sources working on the project say: “Who knows?” “indefinitely”.

The extraordinary images are helping engineers get to the bottom of how it all happened.    Credit: 7NEWS
A 7NEWS freedom of information fight, has unearthed these pictures.  Credit: 7NEWS

We’re also told, not much has changed in over a year underground. The key difference now, according to Transport for NSW: The site has been made “safe and secure”.

At the site, subcontractors have “demobilised” downing tools as of today.

Transport Secretary Josh Murray has told 7NEWS we’ve struck an in principal deal with CPB. The contractor will continue to keep the site “secure” and get on with ‘surface works’ while talks continue over who ultimately foots a growing bill for the underground disruption.

But all this doesn’t answer a bigger question; can it be fixed?

When I asked Josh Murray he said: “I’ve never met an engineer who says they can’t fix a problem.”

Still, it seems we’re in quite the hole. Could taxpayers end up being buried in Sydney’s biggest money pit?

Watch the special investigation tonight at 6pm on 7NEWS Sydney.

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