Cockatoo Island Redundant Mine Infrastructure
The decommissioning and removal of a redundant power station and other structures was the subject of this project at one of Australia’s leading iron ore mining sites for HWE Mining Pty Ltd and Cliffs joint venture with the demolition works commencing July 2012. The site was a mine site in a remote location being Cockatoo Island in Western Australian near Derby or Broome Northern WA. This site was very isolated and could only be accessed via a barge landing craft from the mainland. To get to the area some harsh country and unreliable road networks had to be carefully negotiated prior to works commencing.
The project involved friable and bonded asbestos and dangerous and hazardous chemical substances consistent with motors, a gantry crane and other machinery and equipment contained within an old power station. This demolition and removal had to be cautiously completed and involved the dismantling of the power station as opposed to traditional demolition. This was because the underground cyclone shelter and associated services situated beneath the power station could remain in sound working order and maintain its structural integrity. The motors involved ranged from 8 to 20 tonnes and again required careful handling as part of the floor of the building was also the ceiling of the cyclone shelter. Old liquid storage tanks both for water and various hydrocarbons also had to be removed cautiously in a manner that did not spoil the local environment.
The power station had lain dormant and disused for many years and as a result was in some disarray. Friable asbestos was originally used extensively around exhaust pipes, gaskets, switch boards and cladding to where the bulk of the building area was badly contaminated. The asbestos continued to decay and constantly covered all structures. The clean-up process had to be carefully considered and planned so that the optimal containment of any asbestos could be arranged while ensuring that no personnel or the environment was exposed to further contamination.
Removal of fuel tanks outside the building, a slipway and historic dinosaurs (or electric driven face shovels) also formed part of the contract. No wildlife was affected by the removal operations and Southern Cross performed the works under regular inspection from wildlife officers of the head contractor. The job was concluded in a successful manner with all desired outcomes achieved.
