A GIANT sinkhole that threatens to swallow a portion of McKenzie Street West has shocked residents in Golden Square.Believed to be a old mineshaft from Bendigo’s early mining era, the hole measures half a metre wide and one metre long and is estimated to be 15 metres deep.The hole appeared next to the Allan family’s driveway on Friday.City of Greater Bendigo staff were called to the site and fenced off the hole over the weekend.Home owner John Allan, who has lived at the property with his wife, Dorothy, for 17 years, said it was the second time a sinkhole of this size had appeared next to the driveway.“The first hole appeared a few years back and the council came out to fix it, but now another one has developed – it’s very dangerous,” he said.Mr Allan said the family had never known what was under their driveway and would regularly use the section of road.He said the council had assured him the hole would be filled and he would receive a new driveway to rectify the problem. But because of the hole’s depth – easily able to swallow a car – Mr Allan felt more investigation of the road was needed.“The rain has eroded a lot of soil and other parts of the road could be dangerous,” he said.Tracy Harnetty, who also lives at the home, said the first hole took three cement mixers to fill.“I don’t know what they plan on doing to fix it this time, but it doesn’t look like the first round fixed it,” she said.She said curious neighbours had been trying to throw objects down the mysterious black hole in an attempt to measure its depth.City of Greater Bendigo mayor Rod Campbell said he was unaware of the hole as of yesterday, but said the council’s top priority was the safety of residents.“I am seeking more information on the area and the hole to ensure the safest possible methods are undertaken to rectify to the problem,” he said.