Alcoa Community Update: Power station decommissioning – August 30, 2018

As part of Alcoa of Australia’s decommissioning of the Anglesea power station and mine, the main power station building was scheduled to be felled using controlled explosives on 30 May. The demolition activity, which was safely executed, did not result in the complete collapse of the structure.

Further to last week’s Community Update (Surf Coast Times, 23 August), Alcoa is continuing to work with the principal contractor to plan for the demolition of the remaining power station structure.

The detailed investigation into why the structure only partially collapsed is now complete and is informing the method for the future demolition.

The principal contractor has appointed a suitably qualified subcontractor to complete the demolition, which is expected to include the use of explosives placed via a combination of remote controlled technologies and manual application techniques. The proposed demolition methodology is currently being reviewed with Worksafe Victoria.

It is anticipated that site mobilisation and initial preparation works will commence in early September, with the demolition activity likely to occur in late September or October.

On the day of the scheduled demolition, the activity will only proceed if the wind direction is away from the township. A 400-metre exclusion zone will be patrolled by sentries, and asbestos monitoring will be in place during and after the demolition activity.

Alcoa will write to Anglesea residents and local businesses to provide details of the demolition, including the timing. Alcoa will also host information sessions to enable interested community members to speak directly with representatives from Alcoa and the principal contractor.

Dates and times for these sessions, together with ongoing updates about the demolition activity, will be communicated in the weekly ‘Alcoa Community Updates’ published in the Surf Coast Times and posted on alcoa.com.au/anglesea.

While the planning for the demolition is ongoing, Alcoa remains committed to ensuring the continued safety of onsite personnel and the community.

Monitoring of the power station structure continues to confirm it is stable.

Air monitoring remains in place. No airborne asbestos fibres have been detected above the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 asbestos exposure standard. As stated previously, the demolition occurred following a twelve-month asbestos removal program, a process regulated by Worksafe Victoria.

The safety exclusion zone also remains in place and is monitored by security officers and video surveillance 24 hours per day. Worksafe Victoria and EPA Victoria continue to be closely informed about activities at the site.