Kooragang Island Transformed: Decades-Long Remediation Complete

5 December 2024

newy.com.au – The transformation of Newcastle’s Kooragang Island has reached a significant milestone, with the final stage of remediation now complete. This project has revitalised a once-contaminated 65-hectare site into a dynamic environmental and economic asset for the Hunter Region.

After over a decade of work led by the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC), the former BHP industrial landfill has been rendered safe and ready for future use. Plans are already underway to establish a clean energy precinct on the site, setting Newcastle up as a key player in the production, storage, and export of hydrogen and green ammonia.

The project has also delivered ecological benefits, including the restoration of wetlands vital for the survival of the endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog. Innovative measures such as protective exclusion fencing and refuge ponds, developed in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, have ensured the frogs’ safety and habitat restoration.

This achievement forms part of a broader remediation effort across 217 hectares of former BHP land, including the Mayfield Steelworks site. The scale of these works has been described as monumental, with the combined efforts covering an area equivalent to 290 football fields. Responsibility for the newly revitalised Kooragang Island site has now transitioned to the Port of Newcastle.

Environment Minister Penny Sharpe praised the project for prioritising ecological preservation while addressing industrial hazards, calling it an exemplar of sustainable remediation. Planning Minister Paul Scully highlighted the economic potential unlocked by transforming unused industrial land, while Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley underscored the region’s industrial legacy and future-focused development.

HCCDC CEO Valentina Misevska commended the project team’s dedication and innovation, noting landmark achievements such as the construction of the world’s deepest underground barrier wall at Mayfield. This milestone represents the culmination of two decades of work, positioning Newcastle as a leader in environmental renewal and economic revitalisation.