On Tuesday morning police confirmed a bone located by a member of the public at Butlers Fall Reserve in November belonged to Lateesha Nolan.

Ms Nolan disappeared from her Dubbo home in January 2005. In 2012 her cousin, Malcolm Naden, was convicted of her murder.

The find might finally allow the Nolan family to have answers, Mr Grant said.

“Today’s news is bittersweet. It’s very welcome news on both fronts because they’ll be able to finally get some answers and properly bring Lateesha home, but again it revisits all those horrific memories in her tragic loss,” the Police Minister said.

The NSW homicide squad would leave no stone unturned, Mr Grant said, and they had the full support of the NSW government.

“Whenever there is a need for additional resources that are outside the police budget I get asked to assist in that way, which isn’t necessary at this stage but I stand at the ready and willing to help,” he said.

The discovery of the bone was a great find by a member of the public, Mr Grant said, as the location had made the search “extremely difficult” from when it began in 2005.

“Given the recent flooding, given the location where the body has been found it does present a challenge for police and having the remains found so close to the search area is a clear example of how close they were but how difficult that last search was,” he said.

It also highlighted the importance role the public play in policing.

“The community in any policing effort is probably the most vital factor that we have so to the individual who came across the remains, my thoughts are with them. Not a pleasant experience by any stretch of the imagination but very grateful they promptly reported their find to police to allow them every opportunity to get the answers for the Nolan family they so rightly deserve,” Mr Grant said.

The Police Minster said he was staying up-to-date with the investigation with regular briefings.