NSW Police detectives will conduct extensive searches on three locations in Kendall, the area where missing child William Tyrrell disappeared.

Then three-year-old William was playing in his grandmother’s garden at Kendall on the Mid-North Coast when he vanished in September 2014.

A coronial inquest into his disappearance is underway, with a $1 million reward for information.

State Crime Command Director Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said the searches would be carried out by hundreds of police and others at three specific locations, based on new evidence.

Police are expected to undertake two to three weeks of “high intensity” searching, under and above ground.

Detective Bennett said the search is “not speculative in any way”, and police are acting on coronial orders.

“We’re very hopeful that we can bring this matter to some sort of conclusion,” he said.

However, “I am not anticipating a swift end to the investigation by any means,” he later added.

The detective confirmed the search is for William’s remains.

2GB senior reporter Clinton Maynard told Ray Hadley the three locations have never been searched before.

“There’ll also be the involvement of specialists from outside the police force.

“Land will be cleared, trees will actually be chopped down.”

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