The developer facing disciplinary action over the collapse of a major excavation pit is planning to bring the diggers back again after applying to construct an even larger building on the same site.

In July 2015, Jim Nicolaou​ of Action Master Builders was forced to fill a crumbling construction pit in Mount Waverley after the 15-metre deep hole he was digging collapsed following heavy rain.

Around 16,000 cubic metres of dirt was dumped on the site after the collapse. Credit:Joe Armao

The massive backfill job required 1700 truckloads – or 16,000 cubic metres – of dirt to be dumped on the site, and left Mr Nicolaou facing a massive clean-up bill.

Now Mr Nicolaou wants to dig up all that dirt again and has applied for permission to build an even bigger medical suite, childcare centre and apartment block than was planned before.