5 excavators were used during the demolition, ranging in size from 25 tonne to 160 tonne, along with various cranes and boom lifts.

Due to the close proximity of residential areas, demolition rubble was cleared as soon as practical, by loading the demolished material onto trucks for transport off site. The demolition material had to be kept moist to minimise the generation of dust, and all trucks were required to pass through the wash down bay and to have loads covered before leaving the site. The demolition area and surrounding areas affected by dust were swept to ensure the material did not become airborne, or wash off into the water treatment system during the next rainfall event. Air Quality sensitive receptors were established in neighbouring residential areas to ensure that air borne dust and contaminants were kept to safe levels. On site, the project team’s blood lead levels were closely monitored throughout the life of the project.

Photographic heritage records were taken before each building was demolished, to preserve the historical aspects of the site.

The 83 metre tall concrete emission stack was demolished using 12 kilograms of explosives. The collapse of the stack was conducted in a controlled manner and no incidents occurred.

A sales and marketing program was undertaken to realise assets from mobile plant, stores, spare parts, to major structures, such as the SO2 tail gas scrubber which was dismantled and transported to Mt Isa.

In excess of 100 structures were demolished over the length of the project, and over 20,000 tonnes of metal was removed for recycling. No incidents occurred throughout the entire time span of the project with the amount of man hours totaling 35,340hrs.