Due to the discovery of unforeseen levels of contamination during early stages of construction at the Meadowbank Park sports fields, Council is advising there will be a halt to further work while further detailed investigations and possible remediation is carried out.
Council's contractor, Solutions Plus, has been undertaking works to replace the existing netball courts with multipurpose turf playing fields, a cricket pitch and a new amenities building with club rooms and associated facilities.
The site works commenced in early 2026, with the removal of the existing netball courts and early stages of bulk earthworks, demolition of the existing amenities building and the installation of footings for the new amenities building already completed.
During early stages of the construction works, contamination was discovered throughout the area of works.
While contamination was already anticipated and allowed for in the contract as a result of Council's earlier detailed geotechnical investigations, the nature, extent and levels of contamination found during recent excavations are considered by the contractor to be significant and outside the scope of the contract.
Council and the contractor consider that further targeted investigations will be necessary to determine the exact nature and full extent of the contamination to enable an appropriate remediation strategy (if required) to be developed.
At this stage, the required onsite investigations, assessments and reporting are expected to take at least six months.
Due to the close proximity of the LH Waud Sporting Facility to the subject site, the scope of the planned additional site investigations will be extended to include the LH Waud site to provide a holistic assessment of contamination at Meadowbank Park. Both major projects being progressed for the broader Meadowbank Park will therefore experience delays of up to 12 months.
City of Ryde Mayor Trenton Brown asked the community to remain patient while these vital investigations are underway.
"Unfortunately, contamination discoveries are to be expected at former landfill sites because of the much less stringent environmental regulations that existed in past decades," he said.
"While the unforeseen delay is disappointing, it is vital that any contaminants are safely identified and dealt with before the major stage of work continues.
"This will be a wonderfully upgraded area of much-needed active open space for the City of Ryde community, and I look forward to its completion.
"We will keep the community updated as the investigation progresses."
