Human remains found near Lighthouse & Miners Beach Port Macquarie

Walkers made the discoveries at Little Bay, near Lighthouse Beach, and Miners Beach at Port Macquarie at about 8:00am.

The remains, believed to belong to the same person, were found at the top of the high tide mark, according to Chief Inspector Mick Aldridge.

"With the conditions over the weekend, and the winds over the weekend, it appears it's been washed ashore maybe late last night or early this morning," he said.

"Patrols have been made of all the beaches this morning and all that area.

"Drones have been flown around that area in an attempt to see if there's anything else that could be identified."

Police said it was too early to say whether the remains were those of a man or a woman.

It is unknown how long the remains were in the water for.

Local man missing

Last week the land and sea search for 56-year old Mark James, whose car was found at Lighthouse Beach south of Port Macquarie on September 19, was suspended.

Chief Inspector Aldridge said police were investigating whether the remains belonged to the missing man.

"That's something our crime scene and detectives will look into," he said.

"With the remains, we'll do DNA testing and do a number of other examinations on it and hopefully we can identify who they belong to."

The search for Mr James was suspended last Tuesday after police divers entered the water at Lighthouse Beach.

"But patrols of the beaches and around that area have continued since that day," Chief Inspector Aldridge said.

"At this stage there is nothing to indicate to us that he's active in the community and our search for the missing person has been focussing around the Lighthouse Beach and that area."

Chief Inspector Aldridge said the man's family had been told about the discovery.

"They're informed and fully updated on where we are with the current investigation and what we're doing with the remains found today," he said.

Chief Inspector Aldridge said it would take time to identify the remains.

"Often it can be within weeks," he said.

"Sometimes, unfortunately, it can be a matter of months."

Story By | Luisa Rubbo, ABC