Two Brisbane parks to partially close for clean-up after heavy metals found in soil
Two popular inner-city parks will be partially closed after tests revealed potentially toxic heavy metals in the soil.
Brisbane City Council has confirmed that substances such as copper, nickel and zinc have been detected at James Warner Park and CT White Park on the west side of Kangaroo Point.
“[These] “These areas are special riverside areas with a really long history,” Tracy Davis, chair of the council’s environment, parks and sustainability committee, said in a statement.
“Once we undergo testing and determine the best approach, we begin cleaning up the parks so residents can enjoy them for years to come.”
Work on James Warner Park is scheduled to begin in late April, followed by improvements to CT White Park.
Old fill material underground will be excavated and replaced, some trees will be removed and new ones will be planted, new grass will be laid, new terraces will be laid around some trees in the dog park, and general landscaping will be done.
The dog park may need to close for up to four months. The CT White Park playground, which includes swings, a slide and a castle-like climbing area, will also be temporarily closed.
The work will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and will likely be completed in late 2026.
The council said the parks were not dangerous, adding that the pollution dates back decades when the land was home to shipyards, docks and workshops.
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