MACKENZIE Yandell's jaw dropped while playing soccer with his dad, but his gaping mouth was nothing compared to the massive hole in the ground across from his house.Nine-year-old Mackenzie and his father were in a vacant lot across from their Dyte Parade home in Ballarat East, when he noticed a giant pit had developed next to the old rail lines, which run parallel to Scott Parade.An old gold mine had collapsed and left a 2.4 metre-deep hole in the ground.Mackenzie said he came close to falling in the hole."I was just playing soccer with dad and my head nearly fell in the hole," he said.Have you come across an old mine shaft in the Ballarat region? Let us know by posting a comment below.It was not known how long the hole had existed, but Mackenzie's mother Jane said it could not have been very long, as her family used the area regularly."I think all the rain must have caused it," she said.Mrs Yandell, who has lived in Dyte Parade with her family for three years, said she received a copy of a map indicating old mines when she first moved in."There's not supposed to be any mines around here, but obviously this is a mine," she said."I saw girls playing in it, which horrified me."She said she quickly called the council who cordoned off the mine with caution tape.A City of Ballarat spokeswoman said council's concern was to make the area safe. She said the mine would be filled in immediately.