Douglas, VIC
Location
3 months
Duration
Iluka Resources
Client
Project Overview
The project involved the demolition of a wet concentrator plant, mining unit, and all associated infrastructure at Iluka Resources’ redundant mining and wet separation operations located at the Douglas Mine Site in Kanagulk, Victoria.
These demolition works formed part of the rehabilitation process for the site with mining operations having ceased in 2012. The project comprised the demolition of two major components, the Wet Concentrator plant (PC13), and the Mining Unit (MU11). These were carried out with the use of a 48t excavator with a high reach boom.
A detailed NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) survey of the structures was completed by an accredited Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) prior to the commencement of demolition works. Where parts of the structures could not be accessed, a detailed survey was conducted post demolition works in the particular area. This involved an RSO testing all parts of structures using a portable radioactivity counter device, marking all parts as below or above the limit.
Structural parts that exceeded Iluka’s transport clearance limits were marked and separately stockpiled for further decontamination. Materials with NORM levels below the allowable limit were cross-checked by the client’s representative and transported to a licensed facility using Liberty Industrial’s trucks that are licensed to carry radioactive materials.
Over 90% of waste was recycled throughout the project. Scrap material generated from the demolition work was processed to 1m sections using a 38t excavator with a combination of 335 and 660 shear attachments and loaded out for recycling. Poly-pipes were segregated, cut to length, cleaned, and then sold for reuse, and transformers of different sizes were also sold for reuse and salvage.
Pulverised concrete was sold to a concrete recycling facility for use as road base, while concrete rebar was separated and recycled. As part of these works, Liberty Industrial undertook the offsite disposal of other potential contaminants through a licenced contractor. This included separation and disposal of SF6 units from switch gears, hydrocarbons, chemical residue, and testing transformer oil for PCB and its appropriate disposal.
