ON-SITE NEWS – May 2019 Update
REMEDIATION UPDATE
The remediation of soil on the former CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology Laboratory, 1 Henry Street Belmont, is continuing ahead of settlement of the sale to development company Up Property.
As we detailed in previous newsletters, Up Property intends to develop the site for residential use.
Prior to settlement of the sale, CSIRO is undertaking soil remediation work to remove hydrocarbons identified in the soil in a small area of the site.
Up Property has publicly tabled concept development plans for the site. Refer to the Up Property website at www.upproperty.com.au.
Demolition work at the CSIRO Belmont site has been completed, however the remediation of soil on the site is to be finalised to ensure the site is suitable for future residential use. During the demolition of buildings and soil testing, contamination of liquid hydrocarbon from the previous textile processing functions, used some 40 years ago, was identified.
BACKGROUND
In 2017, a test trial was undertaken of the affected soil to determine the remediation process. Soil was dug out and formed into stock piles to enable extraction and collection of the hydrocarbons in filters. At the end of the project, the filters were removed and regenerated, recovering the hydrocarbons and enabling the filters to be re-used.
The remediated soil was backfilled in to the excavation hole in October 2017.
LOOKING FORWARD
The next stage of the remediation project is to complete the vapour extraction process for the whole area of contamination, approximately 30m x 30m to a depth of approximately 11m on the eastern end of site (nearer to the Princes Highway). The excavation site is approximately 40m away from south fence line. The extraction process will be based on the methodology developed during the trial works.
Enviropacific Services (EPS) have been engaged by CSIRO to undertake this remediation work and the process will be overseen by environmental consultants, Jacobs.
An early activity of EPS will be to survey the excavation area using a drone. EPS will commence work on-site on Monday the 10th of June, setting up site-sheds and amenities. In late June, EPS will commence the excavation and stock piling of contaminated soil. Early works on site will include the demolition of existing concrete slabs. This work will be undertaken during Monday to Friday working hours and will likely be noisy due to the concrete hammering process.
The concrete hammering will probably take three to four days on and off with a full day of hammering on day one and occasional hammering after that.
EPS have received a permit from Council for the removal of a small number of trees from the site that are within the work area.
The stockpile construction process will take approximately 5 weeks. The stockpiles will be placed running east to west approximately 10m away from the south boundary, approximately 2m high and 50m long. Extraction and filtering to remove hydrocarbons from the soil will then take place over approximately 16 weeks, during which time the environment will be monitored. The extraction system will be surrounded by noise reduction materials, such as hay bales, in order to minimise disruption to neighbours. Stockpiled materials around the site will be covered to control any water ingress, loss of soil and dust being windblown.
When the hydrocarbon level has been reduced to a satisfactory level, the material will be replaced into the excavation hole and compacted. We anticipate the work to be completed by January 2020.
To minimise disruption to the local community, soil excavation and stockpile construction and maintenance work will be carried out between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Weekend work is not anticipated at this time.
OTHER INFORMATION
CSIRO is committed to ensuring the safety of our workers and the local community and will carry out the project in line with current regulations and WorkSafe Victoria requirements.
CSIRO will continue to maintain the grounds and verge by ensuring the grass is regularly cut and boundary trees are kept in good order. The fence around the property preventing unauthorised access to site will remain until the completion of the works.
KEEPING YOU INFORMED
CSIRO will provide further community updates during the work. These updates will be issued every couple of months and will be updated on our community website https://wp.csiro.au/belmontworks/
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us on 1300 363 400 (9am-5pm Monday – Friday), or email us at: csiroenquiries@csiro.au