Two of Kangaroo Point’s most-loved riverside parks will be partially closed for months as Brisbane moves to remediate soil contaminated with potentially toxic heavy metals, a legacy of the suburb’s industrial past.
Read: Kangaroo Point Playground and Dog Park Closed Following Lead Discovery
Testing at James Warner Park and C.T. White Park detected heavy metals including copper, nickel and zinc in the soil. The contamination is understood to date back decades, to when the land was occupied by shipyards, wharves, and workshops.
Brisbane has been quick to reassure residents that the parks are not considered dangerous, but says works are necessary to bring the sites up to contemporary standards. Remediation is scheduled to begin at James Warner Park in late April before moving on to C.T. White Park, with the full project expected to wrap up in late 2026.
“Testing has helped us understand the land and what’s needed to meet today’s standards. These works will improve the environment and restore green spaces so everyone can enjoy them for years to come,” Brisbane said on its project webpage.
Dog Park to Close First
Works at James Warner Park kick off first, with the popular dog off-leash area set to close for up to four months from late April to allow for excavation, turf laying and the installation of a new deck around some existing trees in the dog park area.
The remediation involves digging out old fill material from beneath the soil and replacing it, removing some trees while protecting significant ones where possible, planting new trees, laying fresh turf, and carrying out general landscaping.
Car parks on Annie Street and Hamilton Street will also be temporarily closed during works, and the Kangaroo Point Bikeway will be narrowed near the dog park area.
For dog owners looking for alternatives while the park is out of action, the Baines Street Dog Off-Leash Area in Kangaroo Point is a nearby option. Brisbane’s Off-Leash Dog Park map through their website lists further options across the city.
Works will run Monday to Saturday, 7am to 5pm, with BCC committing to clear on-site signage throughout.
C. T. White Park Works
Once works at James Warner Park are underway, attention will shift to the neighbouring C.T. White Park, where the much-loved playground, featuring swings, a slide and a castle-like climbing structure, will be temporarily closed.
The car park at the Brisbane Jazz Club nearby will also be affected during this phase of the project. As with James Warner Park, all existing park features are expected to be fully reinstated once the remediation is complete. Families with young children are encouraged to use Captain Burke Park or Raymond Park as nearby alternatives in the meantime.
A Riverside History and a Path Forward
The contamination at both parks is tied directly to Kangaroo Point’s working-class industrial heritage. The riverside land that is now green, open space was once home to the kinds of heavy industry, including shipbuilding, wharves and workshops, that shaped Brisbane’s early economy and left traces in the earth long after the factories fell silent.
BCC’s environment, parks and sustainability committee chair Tracy Davis described the parks as “really special riverside spaces with a long history,” adding that Brisbane is “getting on with cleaning up the parks so they can be enjoyed by residents for years to come.”
Read: Kangaroo Point Off-Leash Dog Area Divides Residents
Residents with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Brisbane City directly on 3403 8888. Updates will be provided before works begin at C.T. White Park, with further progress notifications to follow throughout the project.
Published 17-April-2026
