Kurri Kurri Smelter Remediation Approved

The proposal to remediate the former Kurri Kurri aluminium smelter site has been approved after a rigorous assessment by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE).

The project, which began in 2014, is primarily for the construction of an onsite, engineered containment cell, and the transfer of the contents of an existing approved stockpile of mixed waste generated during the 1970’s and 80’s, the first decades that the smelter was in use. Several pockets of contaminated soil, along with some demolition and other smelter waste that cannot be reused or recycled, will also be placed in the cell.

Hydro Aluminium Managing Director, Richard Brown, is delighted with the approval.
“We have been very keen to prepare the site for reuse, and this approval means we can now get on with the redevelopment of the site, which can help to regrow the economy in and around Kurri Kurri, after it was impacted by the closure of the smelter now more than eight years ago.

The demolition of the site commenced in 2017 and is now virtually complete. This was highlighted in May 2019 when the tall stacks were brought down.

Daracon Contractors – part of the Daracon Group – was awarded the remediation contract in December 2019, to carry out the construction of the containment cell and placement of all of the mixed waste and other materials.

The 2000-hectare site is mostly buffer land that requires no remediation. A large proportion of this is highly valued bushland with significant conservation value. The majority of that land will be maintained in its natural state, as an offset for residential development planned near the Gillieston Heights and Cliftleigh residential corridor along Cessnock Road, and employment lands planned for around the smelter site, closer to Kurri Kurri and Weston, and straddling the Hunter Expressway at Hart Road.

The NSW Government will take ownership of the containment cell once it has been completed and independently audited, a process that will ensure the integrity of the cell upon completion and over a five-year period post-construction. The containment cell will be owned and managed by the Waste Assets Management Corporation (WAMC), part of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. WAMC has the experience and expertise to manage landfills and containment cells on behalf of the NSW Government. The ongoing management of the cell will be paid for entirely by Hydro, through a monetary contribution to be administered by the Department.

Shane Boslem, Project Director and spokesperson for the Stevens/McCloy joint venture is looking forward to the development taking place. “The Maitland and Kurri Kurri areas have a lot of potential for further growth given this area’s strategic location close to the Hunter Expressway and the Maitland, Cessnock growth corridor. Significant residential development has already occurred along this corridor, and our plans for housing there will complement and enhance this growth.”

“The site’s southern area is ideal for employment lands due to its proximity to the Hunter Expressway, access to significant existing infrastructure and the existence of a rail line through the site, and of course a skilled workforce. The economic benefits associated with the site’s redevelopment has the potential to include a significant jobs boost for the local community,” he said.

The first steps towards residential development are expected to get underway within six months of the rezoning being completed.

Q&A

Q: How big is the containment cell?

A: It will be about 300,000 cubic metres in volume when completed. As a comparison, this is about 16% of the size of the Pasminco cell at Boolaroo.

Q: What does ‘engineered containment cell’ mean?

A: The cell has many features that have been ‘engineered’ into the design, such as:

• The base of the cell is made in layers of thick polyethylene plastic used in landfills, on top of around four metres of compacted clay.
• Each sheet and layer of plastic is welded together to ensure its integrity, and the welds are tested during a quality audit process.
• Material is placed above the plastic layers in the base, to cushion the waste material as it is placed, ensuring it doesn’t pierce through it, again maintaining integrity.
• The waste material is covered with more plastic liners that are welded to the bottom layers around the edges, to create a fully enclosed “dry tomb” design.
• Below the dry tomb, a leachate collection system is in place, to capture any liquid generated whilst the waste material was being placed, such as during a rain event.
• Built into the cell, a gas collection system will ensure that any gases generated in the cell can be managed appropriately.
• Above the top layers, recycled aggregate and soil are placed, and then shallow-rooted vegetation above remove moisture from the top of the cell.
• The waste material from the Capped Waste Stockpile will be mixed with 10% (by weight) gypsum, which is a further redundant step to reduce fluoride generation in any leachate that could eventuate.

Q: Will residents be at risk once this cell is constructed? What about the new residential development?

A: No. The approved location and design of the cell will ensure that there are no impacts in the surrounding environment. The majority of the contents of the cell are actually from an existing, approved stockpile that is to the east of the new cell location. The old stockpile is closer to groundwater, doesn’t have a base or any liners. Hydro is not satisfied with that situation, and so will invest in the new cell. No proposed residential development, or existing residences, are close to the new cell location (or the old stockpile).

Note: A video explaining the concept design is available here at: https://youtu.be/qQlO5mTpzvY.

Other activities on the Hydro site and buffer zone

• The demolition of the Kurri Kurri smelter commenced in May 2017 and is complete.
• Rezoning applications have received an endorsement from both Cessnock and Maitland councils. The councils are exhibiting the planning proposal (from 15 December 2020 to 1 February 2021) and seeking feedback from the community. This includes rezoning for business and industrial development on and around the smelter site, and rezoning for residential development along Cessnock road near Cliftleigh and Gillieston Heights.
• Hydro has completed a comprehensive ecological assessment of the land to be rezoned in accordance with the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Under this Act, Hydro has determined the impact on biodiversity and the offsets required for the proposed future development. As part of the offset strategy, one of the largest conservation areas in the Lower Hunter will be created via a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement, ensuring a significant area of remnant vegetation within the site is maintained for future generations.
• Hydro has committed to the reuse or recycling of all materials from the site where feasible. Aluminium, steel, oil and various other materials are being recycled as part of the current demolition process, and recycling of spent pot lining is about 50% complete with around 40,000 tonnes recycled. Hydro is on track to complete this recycling project by the end of 2021.
• A Community Reference Group, set up in 2014 and consisting of 12 local representatives from Maitland and Cessnock Councils, community groups and local residents, has been a great sounding board for the project and a conduit between the community and Hydro team. This group met for the 42nd time in December, and the voluntary contribution made by the members is much appreciated. (Minutes of each meeting are on the Hydro website).

Hydro encourages questions and feedback on all parts of the project from all community members.

Contact mechanisms include Community line 1800 066 243; Email address community.kurri@hydro.com; and Mail to: Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri, PO Box 1, Kurri Kurri NSW 2327.