FAQ
Who is Landcom?
Landcom is a statutory State Owned Corporation. As the major development arm of the NSW Government, Landcom undertakes residential, commercial and industrial land development throughout metropolitan Sydney and regional New South Wales. Landcom has a corporate commitment to achieve Triple Bottom Line outcomes for all its projects. This means Landcom strives to balance economic, social and environmentally sustainable outcomes for every project it undertakes.
When will work start on the Incinerator Site?
The City of Sydney Council approved the demolition Development Application (DA) in October 2007. Metropolitan Demolitions Group has been awarded the contract and demolition commenced in December 2007.
How long will the demolition take?
The entire process will take approximately 6 months and should be completed in mid 2008.
What was the Incinerator used for?
The Incinerator commenced operation in 1972 and was used by the Waverley and Woollahra Councils as a waste processing facility. Municipal waste from the eastern suburbs was processed by high temperature incineration. The Incinerator site was closed in 1997 following community protests about emissions from the chimney stack.
Is the Incinerator a heritage item?
No, the City of Sydney Council and the NSW Heritage Office do not list the Incinerator site as a heritage item. The Incinerator was only built in the 1970’s and as such, is a relatively ‘young’ building.
Will the Incinerator be recorded before it is demolished?
A photographic archival record of the Incinerator has been undertaken, in accordance with the NSW Heritage Office ‘Guidelines for Photographic Recordings of Heritage Sites, Buildings, Structures and Moveable Items’.
A copy has been sent to the City of Sydney and Landcom will also send a copy to Mitchell Library (State Library of NSW) for permanent retention.
Some of the images are available for viewing – insert click here link to archive.
Landcom will also be using time lapse photography to record the actual demolition process.
Why can’t the chimney be incorporated into new development?
The location of the chimney would compromise the proposed development layout of the future Town Centre. In any event, members of the community who fought so hard to have the Incinerator closed would like to see it replaced by something more useful like shops, open space, places to live and work. The Incinerator, and the rest of the rich history of the site, may be interpreted in public art and other built elements of new public spaces.
Is the Waterloo Incinerator site grossly and dangerously contaminated?
Investigations undertaken on the site have indicated that the site is not contaminated to the extent feared by many residents. In fact, the level of contamination on the site is consistent with other industrial sites in the area and has originated more from historical uses of the site than the operation of the Incinerator. The main reason the community wanted the Incinerator closed related to air emissions, which ceased when the Incinerator stopped operating.
Most of the on-site ‘contamination’ relates to the filling of an old quarry. Previous investigations found fill material extending up to 14.5 metres below the ground level in some locations. Fill material was found to be varied in nature, containing a mixture of sand, gravel, bricks, tiles, ash, slag, glass, wood, ceramics, metal, concrete and plastic.
Landcom engaged HLA-Envirosciences, leading contamination specialists, to undertake further investigations on the site and determine whether any site remediation (‘cleaning up’) is necessary.
The investigations indicated that there are some isolated pockets of contamination throughout fill material on the site, however the nature and level of these contaminants is such that they can be safely retained on the site provided that the potential for any future human exposure is minimised. The site is currently suitable for medium density residential use, provided future works are appropriately managed.
An EPA accredited Independent Site Auditor will be required to issue a Site Audit Statement confirming that the site is suitable for its intended use, prior to any future development occurring.
Are there hazardous materials / substances within the Incinerator buildings?
The by-products (ash) from the waste incineration process previously operating on the site were all transported and disposed off site while the facility was in operation. The site’s previous owners also completed a comprehensive decommissioning process when it was closed. Previous hazardous material surveys have identified that the Incinerator building itself contains some hazardous material, including minor quantities of asbestos. Prior to demolition of the Incinerator, licensed contractors holding “Demolition Class 1 Unrestricted” licence for demolition and “Friable Asbestos Removal” for hazardous material removal will remove all hazardous material. Their work will supervised and monitored by an independent, registered Occupational Hygienist. Monitoring will include local and boundary air sampling and monitoring in accordance with EPA legislation and guidelines to ensure all hazardous materials are removed without risk to site workers or the surrounding community. The independent, registered Occupational Hygienist will provide clearance certificates prior to any demolition works being undertaken.
What about dioxins?
Dioxins are by-products of both natural (eg. bushfires) and industrial (eg. incineration) processes. Small levels of dioxins are usually found throughout all major cities. One of the major community concerns when the plant was operating related to the emission of dioxins from the chimney stack. Soil testing has indicated that the level of dioxins on the Incinerator site is low, and based on international standards and risk studies undertaken for other sites in Australia, does not pose a threat to site workers or the surrounding community.
Will there be vibration that could damage nearby houses?
We don’t expect vibration to pose any risk to surrounding properties.
The distance from the demolition activities to the nearest house is approximately 35 meters. This is quite a long way, especially by comparison with the CBD where the buildings are routinely demolished and excavated right up to adjoining building boundaries without any problem.
The Incinerator buildings, including the chimney, are built on fill which is less likely to transfer ground vibrations than sandstone or natural ground. Nearby houses are outside the landfill area, founded on natural ground.
Vibrations on the site will be monitored throughout the demolition.
Won’t there be a lot of noise and dust while the Incinerator is being demolished?
While there will be noise associated with demolition activities, there are limits for noise emissions under the Protection of the Environment Act 1997.
Water will be sprayed at the source of origin and over the demolition materials during demolition and loading to minimise dust.
Will there be much traffic?
About 30 – 35 truck movements per day will enter and exit the site on Botany Road. There will be 15 – 25 workers on site each day.
Will work on the site affect traffic in Portman Lane?
No, all demolition traffic will enter and exit the site from Botany Road.
What time of day will demolition work occur?
Hours of operation are 7.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 7.30am – 3.30pm on Saturdays.
Will any of the Incinerator buildings or structures be retained?
Landcom intends to completely demolish the Incinerator and all associated above and below ground structures.
What will happen next?
Landcom is preparing the Incinerator site for future development as part of the Green Square Town Centre.
Landcom will select a private sector development partner in mid 2008 to work with in bringing the new Town Centre to fruition.
We expect that construction of the first new buildings in the Town Centre will commence in 2009.
What will be going in the site one the Incinerator is demolished?
The Waterloo Incinerator site forms part of the Green Square Town Centre, a major urban renewal project. Detailed plans for the site haven’t been developed at this stage, but development within the Green Square Town Centre will generally comprise a mix of residential, commercial and retail development. Any development on the site will be controlled by the Green Square Town Centre Local Environment Plan (LEP), which is administered by the City of Sydney.
Can we see something that shows what the Green Square Town Centre will be like?
There is a model of the Green Square Town Centre in the Project Office, 100 Joynton Ave, Zetland. You are welcome to call in to see the model. The model shows indicative building forms based on the planning controls that apply to the Green Square Town Centre. It’s important to remember that these are not actual building designs – they are only indications of what could potentially be built within the Town Centre.
