Status of Remediation Works and Planned Activities

The Environmental Assessment (EA) for the site remediation which was exhibited in August 2006 and was available on the Department of Planning website (www.planning.nsw.gov.au) identified the proposed remediation methodology and the proposed order of remediation over a 5 year period. The project received approval from the Minister for Planning on 27 February 2007.

Parcel 1
The Cardiff West Estate (CWE) remediation excavations (being the first parcel of land to be remediated) were commenced as planned and were completed in late 2007.  Following remediation a Validation Report has to be prepared noting that the remediation works have achieved the required standards for an industrial use.  The PCCS Site Auditor completed a Site Audit Report (SAR) and a Site Audit Statement (SAS) indicating that the remediation process was conducted correctly and that remediated area is suitable for its intended use.  Following these steps, it is necessary to obtain approval from the Director-General of the Department of Planning (D-G) and DECCW in order that the remediated portion of land may be subsequently sold or released for development.  The Validation Report, SAR and SAS were provided to the D-G and DECCW who have also given their approval.

It is planned that this process of sequential (or possibly parallel) remediation of separate defined portions of the whole PCCS site to continue until all the contaminated soil materials are aggregated in the on-site containment cell.  At this stage, all of the surrounding land will have been remediated or managed to a level appropriate for a specified land use (such as residential, industrial, commercial or open space).

As all the abovementioned approvals are obtained in stages, PCCS will seek for excision of the remediated areas from the Remediation Order applying to the site, also in stages.  The processes involved to request excision for the CWE parcel has already commenced.

Parcel 2
Documentation for the next parcel of land to be remediated (Parcel 2) was approved by the Site Auditor and Authorities and remediation of this area is well advanced and due for completion in Quarter 4 2010.  The land area in question consists predominantly of the areas of Munibung Hill to the north and east of the PCCS, site plus a portion of the PCCS land to the east of First Street, Boolaroo. 

This parcel is being remediated as sub-parcels in a patchwork quilt approach to minimise at any one time, the surface area which is exposed which reduces the risk of erosion.  Following remediation, each sub parcel is to be re-grassed prior to the adjoining sub-parcel being remediated.  Approximately two thirds of the Parcel 2 area was remediated and re-grassed by June 2010.

Parcel 3
Documentation for Parcel 3 was approved by the Site Auditor and Authorities. Remediation of this parcel commenced in the second half of 2009 and is due for completion in September 2010.  This parcel consists of the Triangular Paddock, located to the west of the main site, bound by Main Road and TC Frith Avenue.  Once Parcel 3 has been validated, the sedimentation dam constructed in the southern portion of the site will be modified and turned into a permanent onsite detention/stormwater quality control basin.

Due to the separation of this parcel from the main PCCS Site, temporary measures were put in place to enable trucks carrying excavated material for placement in the containment cell to cross from Parcel 3 back to the main site.  The trucks were required to cross existing gas, water and Telstra services.  To ensure that such services were not damaged during trucking operations, a crossing was constructed following consultation and approval from all Authorities.    Following completion of works in Parcel 3 this structure will be removed.

Parcel 4
Documentation for Parcel 4 has been approved by the Site Auditor and Authorities.  Preliminary remediation works commenced in the third quarter of 2009, including the removal and crushing of the concrete slabs from the former buildings.  Some remediation has been undertaken adjacent to Main Road, however the bulk of the remediation works will not commence until Parcels 2 and 3 are complete.  The Parcel 4 site was once part of an original natural gully which was in-filled and utilised as the main plant area during the recent smelting operations up until the smelter’s closure.  It is bound by Main Road, First Street and the Incitec Fertilisers site.  Remediation of this parcel will be completed in 2011.

Parcel 5
Documentation for Parcel 5 has been approved by the Site Auditor and Authorities.  The Parcel 5 site is bound by the railway to the north, the containment cell to the east and Parcel 4 to the south.  This parcel includes the current site office, the Old Laboratory building, and was also the location of smelting operations.  This parcel will be the last area of the site to be remediated.

Containment Cell
The containment cell design documentation has been approved by the Site Auditor and DECCW.  The cell construction contractor was appointed in December 2008 and is was required to gain a number of pre-construction approvals prior to works commencing.  The construction of the containment cell commenced in the first quarter of 2009, and approximately 40% of anticipated material has been placed in the containment cell in mid 2010.

The remaining schedule of works planned are -

3rd Quarter 2010   Remediation of Parcel 2, Parcel 3 and ongoing construction of the Containment Cell Construction to continue.

Remainder 2010 Remediation of Parcel 4 and commencement of Parcel 5.  Progression of Containment Cell Construction. 
 
 2011 – Q2 2012Completion of remediation.  Existing Site Effluent Treatment Plant decommissioned and new Leachate Treatment plant operational for the cell.

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