MELBOURNE DOCKLANDS PRECINCT DEVELOPMENT
& THE FORMER WEST MELBOURNE GASWORKS
REMEDIATION PROJECT
Andrew Labbett – Associate Remediation Engineer
Presentation Outline
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Melbourne Docklands - proximity/size
History of the Melbourne Docklands Area
The Docklands Authority
The Former West Melbourne Gasworks Remediation Project
– What it was
– What we found
– What we did
• The visions being realised…
Melbourne Docklands Precinct
• Central
Business
District
• Melbourne
Docklands
Melbourne’s West – 1864
Melbourne’s West – 1858
West Melbourne Gasworks – 1928
West Melbourne Gasworks – 1937
Contaminant Sources
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Wharf/ Coal Loading Area
Coal Stores
Retorts
Purifiers
Sulphate & Ammonia Plant
Gasholders
Tar Pits & Tanks
Plant Upgrades
Dereliction of The Wharfs, Railyards & Gasworks
• Ship freight became more containerised – hence bigger, open yards
and deeper docks required (Appleton, Webb and Swanston Docks).
• Charles Grimes Bridge pushed larger ship docking sites westwards.
• Modern day transport methods (air & truck) made large shunting
yards redundant.
• Discovery & use of natural gas from Bass Strait saw gasworks
closed in 1970.
• Derelict waterfront area now ripe for “reconnection” with the city.
West Melbourne Gasworks & Docklands – 1989
West Melbourne Gasworks & Docklands – 1989
Docklands Authority
Melbourne Docklands Development Precincts
Wooden Piles…
Coal Tar…
Soil Treatment Processes
Waste Minimisation – Soil Screening
Waste Minimisation – Concrete Recycling
Waste Minimisation – Soil Treatment
Remediation Works
Remediation Project Statistics
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7.6 hectare site
273,000 m3 material excavated (1.0 – 8.3 m below original grade)
4100 Wooden Piles & 460 Steel Encased Concrete Piles
1700 stockpiles
50,000 truck movements
35% of excavated material recycled
69,000 m3 of intra-precinct material imported and used as fill
Over 300,000 tonnes of ‘Contaminated Soil’ to landfill
40,000,000 litres water treated and disposed (some for dust)
500 site inductees
$45 M plus for level site.
Victoria Harbour Precinct - 2009
Victoria Harbour Precinct – 2009 (N – S)
Victoria Harbour Precinct – 2009 (W – NE)
Victoria Harbour Precinct – 2009 (S – NW)
Victoria Harbour Precinct – 2009 (S – N)
Victoria Harbour Precinct – 2009 (Mid – S)
Summary of Whole-Precinct Development Benefits
• Ability to optimise best sites for purpose (i.e. ensure correct mix of
open space, residential, commercial) based on levels of
contamination.
• “Over-kill” remediation – i.e. sustainability considerations can be
made.
• Odours, dust & other construction emissions have less impact.
• Materials and treatment-space sharing (when appropriate).
• Services sharing/ staged development.
Thank You!