Lake Cave closed after October ground collapse

According to the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association (MRBTA), which is vested with the management and operation of Lake, Mammoth, Jewel and Ngilgi caves between the Capes, the incident occurred in early October.

“On the afternoon of Friday 12 October, a section of earth at the far end of the paved platform outside the entry of Lake Cave gave way,” said MRBTA joint-chief executive officer and group manager of operations, Steve Harrison.

The association was quick to confirm there were no injuries during the ground collapse, with public safety a high priority after seismic activity was registered across the South West in recent months.

“No one was injured in the incident. Although this impacted the assembly area outside the cave, it had no impact on the cave itself,” Mr Harrison said.

“A Geotechnical Surveyor has visited the site and confirmed that subsidence was due to a concealed vertical shaft that had been dug by engineers in the 1920s.

“They were attempting to find out what was preventing the stream water from flowing out of the cave which had become partially flooded.

“The location of the shaft was unknown, as it had been covered over by timber and the brick paved platform.

“Entry to the cave is safe but we are keeping the cave closed to visitors for now whilst we repair the subsidence and the paved platform.”

Mr Harrison said the association expected to be able to re-open the popular tourist destination soon. 

“We have taken advice from geotechnical and cave environment experts on options to fill the cavity formed by the old shaft excavation, so as not to impact on any part of the natural cave system, the stream or its ecology,” he said.

“It is hoped that this work will be complete by the end of this month.”