THE playground area at Bernie Goodwin Memorial Park, in Morisset, is likely to remain closed for another six months.
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The park was closed in May this year when asbestos was found buried below the surface.
Lake Macquarie City Council staff made the discovery during work on the council's $1.4-million upgrade of the venue.
But activity in the affected area ceased once the fence went up, and locals have grown impatient.
The council this week revealed that work was likely to start by the end of this year, but would potentially take five months to complete.
The questions locals are asking is: Why is it taking so long?
A council spokesperson said it wasn't a case of simply assigning a council crew to dig out the offending material.
"The remediation work needs to be completed by a licensed asbestos contractor," the spokesperson said.
And their work must be guided by an action plan.
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"Specialist consultants were engaged to develop a Remediation Action Plan (RAP), which identified options to guide the management of asbestos at this site.
"Council received the plan on September 3, 2019, and it identified that the whole site must be capped with approximately 3300 cubic metres of fill material.
"This is a layer of 50cm of clean fill on top of the current ground level.
"Council is awaiting feedback and costings from licensed contractors, with work expected to be underway by the end of the year. It is likely that remediation works, which includes the capping and containing of the asbestos material with approved fill, as well as revegetation works will take up to five months to complete."
The council spokesperson said the community's safety was a priority.
"Council is committed to delivering an improved public space that is safe for Morisset residents to enjoy," they said.
"Council is taking every step possible to remedy the situation as fast as possible."
After the remediation works, construction of the new playground would begin early next year, the council spokesperson said.
A new barbecue and seating area elsewhere at the park was opened in August.
