Detectives have launched a homicide investigation after a woman’s badly decomposed body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped in a bushland creek near Sydney Airport.

Police were called to Joseph Banks Park off Foreshore Road, in Botany, at 7.30am on Monday after a local walker noticed something suspicious in shrubs at the side of the path. 

Homicide Squad commander Danny Doherty said the body may have lain there for ‘weeks, if not months’ and was in a ‘severe’ state of decomposition.

Detectives have been unable to identify the woman and are appealing for the public’s help, with the state of the remains making it difficult to determine her age or ethnicity.

‘At this stage the theory would be that the person has stopped and disposed of the body just off the road,’ said Detective Superintendent Doherty.

‘The victim was only metres away from the side of the road … a very busy thoroughfare. The length of time the body has been there is still unknown.

‘This is a very tragic situation. A female has lost her life and been dumped on the side of the road. 

‘There’s someone’s loved one that doesn’t know yet that their loved one has not only been killed, but most likely murdered.’ 

Detectives are combing through missing persons databases as they work to identify the woman.

Det Supt Doherty urged anyone who may be missing a female loved one to contact police. 

‘There may be people out there who are missing a loved one and we don’t know the age, it could be someone’s mother, daughter, sister, friend. 

‘We are seeking assistance from anyone who may have someone who is a friend who is female we may be missing.’ 

Det Supt Doherty said police were gathering CCTV from buildings in the nearby area and appealed for drivers with dashcam footage to come forward.

‘The starting point for us is to have the victim identified,’ he said. 

‘That would help us then establish timeframes, timelines, known associates, and who the victim is — what’s the story and how she came to be dumped on the side of the road.

‘It’s a gruesome discovery, but it’s a very tragic situation, a female has lost her life and been found … we now need to determine what the story is.’

Footage showed an officer in a mask and gloves taking photos of the scene on Monday.

The area remained taped off and under police guard, with several officers seen working under a gazebo.

The video also captured a pair of discarded boots which may or may not have been part of the crime scene. 

A number of police vehicles were also parked on the side of the road as detectives continued their investigation.  

Foreshore Road runs southeast from Sydney Airport along Botany Bay.

The large Joseph Banks Park runs on its northern side but both sides of the road are lined with bushes. 

Anyone who has seen anything suspicious in the foreshore area in the last few days and recent weeks is being urged to contact police.