Alcoa Community Update: Power station decommissioning – October 11, 2018

As part of Alcoa of Australia’s decommissioning of the Anglesea power station and mine, the power station structure was successfully felled by controlled explosives last week.

The demolition occurred at 1:15pm on 3 October, at which time the wind was blowing in a south-south-west direction, away from the Anglesea township.

Alcoa and principal contractor Industrial Demolition Services worked with government agencies including EPA Victoria, Worksafe Victoria and emergency services (Victoria Police, SES and CFA) to ensure all safety and environmental standards related to the demolition were met.

Preparations included a comprehensive twelve-month asbestos removal program, a process regulated by Worksafe Victoria.

A qualified occupational hygienist from Environmental Health Solutions was also engaged to conduct air monitoring for asbestos and dust during and after the demolition.

A dust monitor was located at the edge of town, at the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) office in Camp Road. The monitoring results indicate that the measured particulate (dust) concentrations at this location were identical before, during and following the demolition.

Asbestos monitors were located at seven positions around the perimeter of the power station site. The results indicate that there were no asbestos fibres detected at any of the locations.

Monitoring results are posted on Alcoa’s website – www.alcoa.com.au/anglesea. Worksafe Victoria and EPA Victoria have also issued public statements about the demolition activity.

Information about the demolition, including air monitoring results, were presented at the Alcoa Community Consultation Network (CCN) meeting earlier this week.

Sixty people attended the meeting, including government representatives from Worksafe Victoria, EPA Victoria, DELWP, Earth Resources Regulation and Surf Coast Shire.

Now that the structure has been demolished, it is expected to take up to six months to process and remove the mainly steel materials from the site.

This ‘material recovery and processing phase’ is being undertaken in accordance with Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act requirements to ensure the safety of all onsite personnel and the community.

In addition, Alcoa has committed to ongoing asbestos monitoring during this phase to provide reassurance to the Anglesea community about the safe nature of the activity.

Alcoa will continue to engage with the community about remediation and future land planning activities and welcomes ongoing feedback and participation.

Alcoa’s CCN meetings are held bi-monthly and regular community updates will be published in the Surf Coast Times.

Alcoa thanks the Anglesea community for its continued interest and participation in Alcoa’s activities.