Robyn Hickie, Amanda Robinson: Ground-penetrating radar finds soil anomalies at scout camp search

A fresh dig is underway after ground-penetrating radar found man-made soil movement at a former Lake Macquarie scout camp linked to disappearances of Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson.

Detectives investigating the probable murders of two Lake Macquarie teens more than 40 years ago have quietly returned to a scout camp to continue digging for their remains after ground-penetrating radar found some “anomalies” in the soil.

Strike Force Arapaima investigators first began a painstaking search through the former Kanangra Scout Camp at Nords Wharf in August, the day after a record $2m reward was announced to help solve the two of the region’s deepest mysteries.

A fresh search of a former scout camp at Nords Wharf is underway for the remains of Amanda Robinson (left) and Robyn Hickie.

And specialist police have returned to the former scout camp this week as they continue to chase down new leads in the disappearances of Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson.

It follows the use of ground-penetrating radar across some areas of the lakeside site revealed some disturbances in the soil suggesting it had been excavated at some stage.

Nothing has been found but the dig continues on Wednesday.

Polcie investigating the suspected murders of Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson in 1979 are digging up specific areas of the old Kanangra scout camp at Nords Wharf after ground-penetrating radar identified three areas of soil which had been previously excavated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

Robyn, 18, disappeared from a bus stop on the Pacific Highway at Belmont North on April 7, 1979 as she was waited for a service to take her to a Belmont pub to catch up with friends.

Exactly a fortnight later, 14-year-old Amanda Robinson vanished just a few hundred metres from her Swansea home after she got off a bus from a school dance and was last seen walking along Lake Road.

Strike Force Arapaima was established more than two years ago to reinvestigate the 1979 mysteries, detectives ruling out long-held belief that backpacker killer Ivan Milat, who was staying in Lake Macquarie working on the roads, could have been responsible.

Police investigating the suspected murders of Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson in 1979 are digging up specific areas of the old Kanangra scout camp at Nords Wharf after ground-penetrating radar identified three areas of soil which had been previously excavated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

Instead, they believe a second serial killer was calling eastern Lake Macquarie home and is responsible for both disappearances.

Detectives uncovered possible links to the old scout camp, prompting the ground search in August following the announcement of $1m rewards for information relating to each of the suspected murders.

But it was the use of Australian Federal Police’s ground-penetrating radar equipment which has highlighted some areas which need further digging.

Police investigating the suspected murders of Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson in 1979 are digging up specific areas of the old Kanangra scout camp at Nords Wharf after ground-penetrating radar identified three areas of soil which had been previously excavated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

The search has now moved to another area of the old camp.

Lake Macquarie crime manager Detective Inspector Steve Benson said the radar had identified three areas within the scout camp.

“We have identified the sites through the ground-penetrating radar and for thoroughness and completeness we needed to investigate further,” Det Insp Benson said.

“They are not necessarily gravesites but areas of disturbance that warrant further excavation and investigation.”

Police investigating the suspected murders of Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson in 1979 are digging up specific areas of the old Kanangra scout camp at Nords Wharf after ground-penetrating radar identified three areas of soil which had been previously excavated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

Archaeologist Penny McCardle has joined the dig as specialist police and forensic experts now hone in on an area away from the August search.

Strike Force Arapaima officer-in-charge Detective Sergeant Kristi Faber is overseeing the dig.

The site has been cleared of undergrowth and an excavator has spent two days lifting soil up to be searched for possible evidence.