Kempt Field site remediation
In progress: The $11.8 million remediation project will address longstanding subsidence and buried waste issues at the 3.17 ha public reserve.
The Waste Assets Management Corporation within Property and Development NSW, in collaboration with the Planning Ministerial Corporation, is leading the remediation of Kempt Field, Allawah in Sydney’s southern suburbs.
The $11.8 million remediation project will address longstanding subsidence and buried waste issues at the 3.17 ha public reserve which was, until 1978, a privately-owned waste landfill site.
The NSW Government owns Kempt Field, which is under the care, control and management of Georges River Council.
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.
The reserve will be closed to the public from late September 2024 for the duration of the rehabilitation works, which is expected to take around 15 months, subject to weather conditions.
To find alternative recreational spaces in the Allawah area, visit the Georges River Council.
Background
A brick quarry operated on the land, bounded by Roberts Lane, Durham Street and the rail line, from the early 1900s to 1957 before the site was used for landfill activities for 20 years.
Following closure of the landfill in 1978, about half of the site was transferred to NSW Government ownership and placed under the care, control and management of Georges River Council for public recreation.
The other half of the landfill site remained in private hands and has now been redeveloped for high-density residential use.
Planning approval reference documents
- Kempt Field Remediation — Review of environmental factors - February 2025 (PDF 10.91MB)
- Appendix B — Remediation action plan (PDF 18.12MB)
- Appendix C — Design drawings (PDF 17.42MB)
- Appendix D — Noise and vibration assessment plan (PDF 14.87MB)
- Appendix E — Soil and sediment control plan (PDF 3.18MB)
- Appendix F — Traffic management plan (PDF 4.38MB)
- Appendix G — Arborist impact assessment report (PDF 9.6MB)
Next steps
Excavation works for the installation of a landfill gas extraction system and site capping preparation works will start from the week commencing 17 February 2025. These works are expected to take 10-12 weeks. Any minor odours occurring during this time will be mitigated and managed to minimise potential impacts.
Once the excavation works are completed, clay material will be imported to cap the site. Capping is due to be completed by the end of October 2025.