Bones have reportedly been found in bushland south of Sydney in the search for missing Sydney man Matthew Leveson.

The discovery was made on Wednesday afternoon at the possible burial site of the murder victim, with family members seen embracing at the scene in the Royal National Park.

Excavators stopped working on Wednesday afternoon at the bushland site south of Sydney, with Matthew’s parents, Mark and Faye Leveson, overcome by emotion after joining detectives at the site.

An AAP photographer reported the Levesons were taken by NSW Police to an area of bushland behind two trees just off McKell Avenue, in Waterfall.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin has requested forensic officers to assist, a NSW State Crime Commander supervisor told AAP.

“They have found items of interest,” she said.

Matthew Leveson’s parents, Mark and Faye, at the site earlier this week. Photo: AAP

Wednesday is the ninth day in the latest search to find the 20-year-old’s remains at the site.

It’s the third time in six months police have searched the bushland after operations in November and January failed to find any trace of Matthew.

Investigators were originally led to the remote site by Matthew’s former boyfriend, Michael Atkins, who was acquitted of the younger man’s murder in 2009.

Mr Atkins took detectives to the potential burial site after he was offered immunity from prosecution for perjury and contempt of court. He had admitted to lying at an inquest into the suspected murder.

The ongoing inquest into the death of Mr Leveson, who was last seen leaving Darlinghurst’s ARQ nightclub with Mr Atkins in 2007, is scheduled to resume in August.

Key dates in the Matthew Leveson mytery

• 23 September 2007: Matthew Leveson last seen leaving ARQ nightclub in Darlinghurst about 2am with his partner Michael Atkins.
• Mr Atkins seen on CCTV footage buying a garden mattock and gaffer tape from a hardware shop around 12pm.
• 25 September 2007: Matthew reported missing after he failed to turn up for work.
• 5 August 2008: Mr Atkins arrested for Matthew’s murder.
• 20 October 2009: Mr Atkins acquitted of murder and manslaughter by a majority verdict. He did not give evidence at his trial.
• 28 February 2012: A $100,000 reward announced for information leading to the discovery of Matthew’s body.
• 7 December 2015: A coronial inquest into Matthew’s suspected murder is relaunched.
• 20 May 2016: Mr Atkins ordered to give evidence at the inquest and granted immunity from any information he gave being used to prosecute him.
• 5 September 2016: Mr Atkins launches unsuccessful Supreme Court bid to stop the inquest and avoid giving evidence.
• 31 October 2016: Mr Atkins begins giving evidence at the NSW Coroner’s Court in Glebe.
• 10 November 2016: Police launch a search in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney after striking a deal with the attorney-general to give Mr Atkins immunity from perjury and contempt of court charges that could arise out of lying to the inquest.
• 17 November 2016: First search called off.
• 9 January 2017: A second and secret search commenced. Two days later, police confirm no remains had been found.
• 22 May 2017: A third search commences in the Royal National Park.
• 31 May 2017: Human remains are found.