Boolaroo earthworks

New access road created at former Pasminco smelter

The Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation engaged our Waste Assets Management Corporation to excavate a new access road before selling land at the former Pasminco smelter site at Boolaroo, Lake Macquarie.

The Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation commissioned works in November 2020. Works were completed in January 2021, before we handed the land over to them in February 2021.

Benefits

• Waste Assets Management Corporation turned a former contaminated site into safe and usable land for commercial purposes.
• The works added value to the land which, in turn, maximised its sale.

Civil and project management experience

Thanks to the Waste Assets Management Corporation’s civil and project management experience, the earthworks were comfortably started and completed within the allocated budget and timeframe.

The Waste Assets Management Corporation prepared all necessary quality assurances; work, health and safety; and environmental plans. It also did the earthworks using equipment it owned or hired.

As it was an unusually wet summer, the Waste Assets Management Corporation planned and structured works to prevent delays caused by the weather. To effectively manage erosion and sediment, the corporation:  

• built drainage and collection ponds
• sealed internal roads
• trimmed excavated batters.

Waste Assets Management Corporation’s earthmoving capability and experience allowed it to move and reuse about 12,000 m3 of soil around the site. Using this material to overtop and level out other parts of the site saved on landfill disposal costs and added value to the project by improving the appearance of other areas.

Background

The work formed part of the remediation of the former Pasminco iron smelter site in Boolaroo. A new access road had to be built as part of the development of a new commercial precinct.

Cost

Waste Assets Management Corporation successfully completed the works within the allocated budget and timeframe for $213,000.

Challenges

Before works started, the Waste Assets Management Corporation identified a critical Hunter Water Corporation pressurised water main of 400 mm, as well as live power and stormwater pits and pipes.

Within a strict timeframe, the Waste Assets Management Corporation got approval from Hunter Water Corporation to relocate the water main.

Stakeholders

Our stakeholders included:  

• Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation
• Hunter Water Corporation
• Lake Macquarie Council.