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Last updated 14 August 2025
14 August, 2025
Recent enquiries on expansion of the Port Kembla Copper Investigation Area
The Port Kembla Copper (PKC) program is investigating and if necessary, remediating metal contamination in soil, roof dust and indoor dust at properties within Port Kembla from historical operations at the former copper smelter located on Military Road, Port Kembla.
This program is being conducted under an Enforceable Undertaking (dated 28 February 2025) entered into by PKC and the EPA. Information on the Enforceable Undertaking is located here: Remediation of legacy smelter-related contamination in Port Kembla | EPA
There are other sources of metal contamination in Port Kembla, including (but not limited to) filling of land with industrial residues, historical use of lead-based paints and emissions from other local industry. PKC is not investigating, or remediating metal contamination from these other sources - only those that can be traced back to the historical copper smelter operations.
Prior investigations identified an area of Port Kembla where smelter-related contamination was most likely to be present, which is referred to as the Investigation Area. The extent of the Investigation Area was developed based on a very large amount of data and was reviewed and approved by an independent, EPA-Accredited Site Auditor and provided to the EPA for review and comment prior to implementation. More information on development of the Investigation Area is located here: About | PKC
Select testing of a small number of properties outside of the existing Investigation Area has recently occurred where possible evidence of smelter-related contamination in soil or dust has been provided to PKC. This testing does not represent an expansion of the Investigation Area. The results of the testing from within and outside of the PKC Investigation Area will be reviewed to determine whether additional properties outside of the current Investigation Area should be included in the program.
The Enforceable Undertaking makes provision for additional properties to be included in the program that are not in the current Investigation Area. These properties can be added where there is evidence that smelter-related contamination may be present and this is agreed to by PKC and the independent EPA-Accredited Site Auditor. The EPA will oversee this process.
If the testing and review by PKC indicates that additional properties outside of the existing Investigation Area should be included in the program, PKC will engage with those property owners and occupiers.
If you are unsure about whether your property is located inside or outside of the PKC Investigation Area, please contact us at: info@militaryroadsitefuture.com or on 1800 297 051.
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The EPA continues to offer free testing on a voluntary opt-in basis to owners and occupiers of private land in Port Kembla who may be concerned about heavy metal levels on their land. The purpose of the soil testing is to check heavy metal levels in surface soils, understand the potential exposure and help keep the community informed. It does not include roof dust. Further information on legacy lead in Wollongong soil and dust, the EPA soil testing program, and practical steps to identify and manage health risks in and around the home and garden can be found on the EPA website here.
Members of the community interested in participating in EPA’s residential soil testing should email info@epa.nsw.gov.au . Please note this includes the need to complete a consent form.
16 January, 2025
Port Kembla Copper (PKC) announces it has entered into a contract to sell its former smelter site at Military Road, Port Kembla, to the Port Kembla Group Pty Ltd (PKG).
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An Australian corporate entity with experience in property development, PKG will take ownership of the site in early 2026 when the sale is expected to complete. The site was put up for sale in August 2024 in an international campaign.
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PKG’s director John Chen said: “The Port Kembla Copper Site represents an amazing opportunity to revitalise and enhance a strategic location on NSW's coastal logistic infrastructure. The site is going through an extensive exercise of place making to determine the future composition to enhance local community offerings and employment while enhancing the sustainable and economic robustness of the region. An experienced team has been engaged to provide a once in a decade opportunity to revitalise the former copper site. Lead by Birch Place and designed by Place Studio, the resulting precinct will service the growing infrastructure and supply needs of a growing community.”
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At 21.77 hectares, the site is one of Port Kembla’s largest industrial development sites, and its sale follows 20 years of investigation, remediation and demolition works at the property by PKC, which operated the smelter from 2000 to 2003. Its closure ended nearly 100 years of copper smelting activity at the Military Road site, predominantly undertaken by other companies.
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PKC executive advisor Ian Wilson said that the sale of the site presented “an excellent outcome for the local community, given it opens up opportunities for commercial and or industrial redevelopment and employment at the site”.
“While PKC operated the smelter for only three of a total of approximately 100 years operation, it has decided to carry out investigation and remediation of contamination at the site and surrounding residential areas on a voluntary basis,” he explained. “Our extensive work has made the site suitable for future commercial or industrial uses, and we are pleased we were able to find an appropriate purchaser in a timely manner.”
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Mr. Wilson said proceeds from the sale will also help fund PKC’s ongoing off-site investigation and remediation program in residential areas of Port Kembla which may have been contaminated from historical smelter operations.
The sale ends a 28-year association of PKC with the property.