The former Imago site in the East Perth Redevelopment Authority’s (EPRA) Claisebrook Village, East Perth project has been recognised nationally, winning the Environmental Excellence under $2 million category in the Case Earth Awards.
The award, which was announced in Melbourne recently, follows the state win on 30 July this year.
EPRA contracted Marsh Civil in November 2003 to undertake the clean-up of the 5,625m2 site, which was contaminated by asbestos, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) and heavy metals. The project included the demolition of buildings, removal of underground structures and clean-up of the soil on site to residential standards.
EPRA CEO Tony Morgan said the remediation of the site was a complicated process and required that Marsh Civil take special care during the work.
“The site had to be completely remediated prior to subdivision works commencing and preparing the land for sale. Initial tests had shown the site had medium levels of heavy metals such as zinc and lead, the presence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and asbestos particles in the soil,” said Mr Morgan.
“These contaminants originated from the site’s previous use as a tram maintenance depot and railway yard, with the asbestos possibly coming from the train carriage’s brake linings, the heavy metals from engineering works and the PAH’s imported onto the site for the treatment of wooden poles and sleepers.”
“Once the contractors began excavating, the team identified that the PAH they had detected in initial testing took the form of coal tar and that’s where the real challenge presented itself. Coal tar, which is liquid, black and sticky when heated by the sun, was found in several small pockets of the site, and in accordance with the Department of Environment’s requirements, it had to be bagged prior to removal off site. In total, 250 1000kg bags of coal tar had to be collected and removed off site,” Mr Morgan said.
Mr Morgan said the clean-up of the former Imago site was certainly one of EPRA’s more complicated remediation jobs and it was fantastic that the Marsh team had been recognised on a national level for a job well done.
Throughout the entire project, the local community and surrounding businesses were kept well informed on the site remediation process through weekly updates, and at all times the highest level of safety standards were employed to manage dust levels and contaminated material on site.
The site, now clean to residential standards, will soon undergo subdivision works and will become available for sale early next year. It will be a mixed-use site with ground floor commercial and residential upstairs.
It is the third time that an EPRA project has won the prestigious Case Earth Award, and with the competition continually getting tougher this is an exceptional achievement, reflecting EPRA’s dedication to environmental excellence.
For more information about the Imago site please contact the EPRA Community Information Line on 1800 639 726.
ENDS.