Demolition

A Development Application for the demolition of the main plant and associated buildings was lodged with LMCC on 24 November 2004 and placed on public exhibition during January 2005.

The Application was approved by Council in March 2005. Careful dedusting and asbestos removal of the buildings in preparation for demolition began in December 2004. Most of the structures and equipment were recycled in order to minimise waste.

Moltoni Adams was appointed to demolish the main plant and other buildings. Moltoni Adams commenced substantial demolition activities in June 2005 following the receipt of relevant approvals.

Moltoni Adams was responsible for obtaining all relevant statutory approvals prior to the commencement of demolition activities including undertaking an assessment of the site’s industrial archaeology and heritage significance. As the principle contractor Moltoni Adams was responsible for implementing appropriate safety and environmental controls during the demolition process.

The removal of the plant and buildings was completed in October 2006.

Heritage

Due to the number of buildings of heritage interest on the site, Moltoni Adams’ development application was accompanied by an extensive Heritage Impact Assessment prepared by an independent consultant. The assessment involved consultation with the NSW Heritage Office and Lake Macquarie City Council’s Heritage Officer.

The main smelter was found to have archaeological significance from an industrial process perspective. In accordance with heritage principles it was fully documented and an archival record made prior to its demolition. Some 6,000 photographs were taken of the plant and industrial process. Architectural drawings were also prepared for buildings which were perceived to have high heritage values.

A Draft Heritage Interpretation Plan has been prepared by an independent consultant and is currently under review. The interpretation plan provides policies, strategies and detailed advice for interpreting a heritage item. It also provides advice about how to implement the plan.

Management of Process Residues

Remaining materials and residues, generally by-products of the smelting process have been combined into stockpiles for economic removal off site or containment.

One of the slag stockpiles is currently being treated to extract lead concentrate. The process significantly reduces residual lead material needing to be contained on-site.

Site Remediation Activities

Remediation activities undertaken to date by PCCS include:

• Ongoing maintenance of the Site to address dust and surface water;
• multiple site investigations to characterise and quantify all residue materials;
• removal of materials which can be processed or recycled;
• covering of the slag mounds with high density plastic liners to significantly reduce potential for material being blown from stockpiles;
• increasing the capacity of our on-site dams;
• regular watering down of roads within the Site;
• development and review of remediation options and documentation of a whole-of-site remediation strategy;
• obtaining approvals from relevant Local, State and Commonwealth authorities including the Department of Environment and Conservation, Department of Planning, and Lake Macquarie City Council;
• the development of a staged implementation of the remediation strategies in parallel with the overall redevelopment of the Site;
• the implementation of ground and groundwater sampling and modelling program;
• management of surface water treatment investigations. The surface water catchments on Site have been mapped and modelled to identify on-site water storage requirements. The data collected is being used to progressively manage stormwater run-off within and from the Site; and
• continual monitoring of lead-in-air since closure indicates a greater than 90% decrease in lead-in-air in the community.

A Remedial Works Plan (RWP) has been prepared for the proposed extension of the Cardiff Industrial Estate. The RWP addresses all the requirements noted in the Site Audit Statement and other regulatory requirements, and it also includes measures considered necessary to protect the environment, workers and community at large. Remediation works will commence in earnest in early 2007 and will take approximately 7 months to complete.

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