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Kempt Field in the Georges River Council local government area will be closed from early September for an extensive $11.8 million remediation following the discovery of subsidence and contamination issues, including methane gas and asbestos.

The 3.17 hectare site - which was a privately-owned waste landfill site prior to 1978 - will undergo remediation led by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (DPHI) to ensure it is safe for future public use.

The NSW Government owns Kempt Field, which is under the care, control and management of the Council.

Advising that said Kempt Field was a vital space for local residents, and ensuring it is safe has been Council’s top priority, Georges River Council General Manager, David Tuxford stated “while the remediation process will require a full closure of the site, we are committed to enhancing recreational opportunities in the surrounding area.

“We’re excited to announce upgrades to playgrounds at Woodville Park, Croot Park, and Empress Reserve will occur within the 2024/25 Financial Year.

“These upgrades will serve as alternative playgrounds following the Kempt Field playground closure.”

Sections of Kempt Field were progressively closed from early 2022 to 2023 after geotechnical investigations revealed subsidence and contamination issues linked to the landfill underlying the site.

Further investigations were undertaken at the site in mid-March 2024 and these findings informed a remediation action plan and the scope of works required to manage the issues.

Tuxford went on to advise that components of the Kempt Field playground will be carefully removed, rehabilitated, and integrated elsewhere into the playspaces which are being upgraded around Georges River, offering children continued safe environments while remediation is underway.

Click here for more information on the works on the NSW Government’s Kempt Field remediation page.

Image: Kempt Field. Credit: NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure.

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