INSIDE• IDES helps to revitalise

Dandenong’s new City Centre. INFOCUS• Planning and OH&S –the foundation of every

demolition and environmental services project. INSITUProject News • Thales – former Acid Plant Facility – Mulwala N.S.W.• 7-Eleven Sites upgrading works.• M80 ProjectINVOLVED• Industrial helps the kids at Variety’s

Grand Final Event.

T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F I N D U S T R I A L D E M O L I T I O N A N D E N V I R O N M E N TA L S E R V I C E S

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Infocus

The Dandenong Revitalisation project is quite unique. No other established community hub in Melbourne has ever undergone such an extensive transformation on such a scale.

Forty years ago, Dandenong was the last suburb you saw as you left Melbourne’s eastern boundary and the first when you arrived from Gippsland. Dandenong was once a country town surrounded by orchards and small farms before the industrial boom that followed the Second World War.

By 1850, graziers had extensively settled the area and in 1852 the township of Dandenong was laid out. It soon became a trading centre for farmers and graziers. The Dandenong livestock, produce and goods markets were formally established in 1866 and became a focal point of the developing township, which eventually became known as the ‘Gateway to Gippsland’. Dandenong became a Shire in 1873 and the opening of the railway in 1879 increased the importance of the town as a commercial centre. The impressive Victorian Town Hall in Lonsdale Street was built in 1890.

In the twentieth century, Dandenong also became a thriving industrial centre –home to International Harvester, General Motors Holden and food giant Heinz who, with hundreds of smaller firms, established Dandenong as a hub of industry. This in turn attracted thousands of workers to the region including the new influx of European migrants who now have an established heritage in the area. The suburb of Doveton was created to assist with housing the rapidly growing population.

While several of these larger manufacturing companies have now closed their operations in Dandenong, the development of Dandenong and South Dandenong as one of Melbourne’s primary business and manufacturing addresses has continued to grow at an unprecedented rate over the past two decades. The South Eastern and Eastlink Freeways make Dandenong an obvious choice for manufacturers and logistics organizations because of the superlative access and the structured development of extensive business parks make Dandenong one of Melbourne’s most successful business addresses today.

Dandenong has an established regional status, attracting shoppers from the country to its large retail complex. The Regional Police headquarters, Magistrates’ Court, a major hospital and associated services and a TAFE college are also located in the Dandenong hub. Dandenong is also the centre of an extensive transport network, with a busy railway station and bus interchange.

The extensive redesign and works to renew Lonsdale Street was completed last year, making it one of Melbourne’s outstanding business and retail boulevards. The next phase of works will involve the transformation of a city block of a large number of redundant shops, office buildings and a former arcade into a civic, retail and business centrepiece that will be a major feature in the entire revitalisation program.

IDES undertook the careful demolition and dismantling of many buildings in Lonsdale Street, Walker Street and Thomas Street.

The project had many constraints, principal among these being the fact that this demolition project was in the heart of an operating retail and business precinct.

Lonsdale Street.In Lonsdale Street, Industrial has demolished four single and double storey buildings as well as the old Dandenong Hanover arcade.

Walker StreetOn the corner of Walker and Lonsdale Streets there was a four-storey building, of concrete construction with brick infill. This building was scaffolded on three sides to the full height of building, with pedestrian gantries on Lonsdale St. for public protection. Small excavators and bobcats were utilised to work down each floor, lowering the scaffold as the work was completed on each level. Once down to a safe level, larger machines were then mobilised for the remainder of the structure.

Shops from 58-80 Walker St. were also demolished.

Industrial Demolition and Environmental Services (IDES) help to create Dandenong’s new City Centre.

Thomas StreetThree buildings were demolished in Thomas Street, including No. 150 which was a two storey brick building on the boundary of a single storey building that remains. The upper storey was demolished by hand.

Following the completion of works, construction has commenced on the new Municipal Building Project with an anticipated completion date of March 2014.

Watpac Constructions are responsible for the building of the new project.

New Council administration offices, a new library and an outdoor civic space for 2500 people are only part of the features for the site, which will establish Central Dandenong as one of the best community hubs in Greater Melbourne and one of the most

ambitious projects of this type ever seen in Victoria. There are a number of community benefits from this project, including:

• A revitalised retail frontage on Lonsdale Street

• The new municipal building will bring 300 additional staff into central Dandenong which will have a positive flow on effect to Dandenong’s retail and business sector

• Multipurpose community spaces• A state-of-the-art library over two

levels

This flagship project for the revitalised Central Dandenong will see the establishment of the new heart of Melbourne’s southeast region.

Demolition Services Manager, Graham Cressey says that the IDES team have executed a relatively complex project very well.

“IDES is proud to again be part of this exciting project.

This site was quite compact and this offered a number of unique challenges. The overall site measured approximately 8000 square metres of which 6500 square metres were structures -more than 80 percent. In addition to the many buildings we demolished, the IDES team excavated more than 6500 cubic metres of material and placed and compacted 3000 cubic metres of material. In addition we removed and disposed of more than 4000 cubic metres of material from the site.The earthworks also included the construction of piling rig platforms for the construction phase.”

Most people still associate demolition with wrecking balls and dynamite induced implosions. In reality wrecking balls and dynamite are rarely used in Australia to demolish a structure these days. Machines have now replaced men at the workface of most demolition tasks because it is safer to dismantle a structure mechanically working from ground level.

The main emphasis of any demolition task today is to remove the human element from the work face as far as practical. The elimination or control of hazards is the major goal with every job.

Without a doubt, the introduction of purpose- designed excavators fitted with specialist attachments, has been the primary initiative in introducing a far safer set of working methods into the industry. For a start it removes the operators from the direct ‘line of fire’ and allows for a structure to be reduced quickly to ground level minimising the risk of injury.

Today, planning is fundamental to every task IDES undertakes. Every aspect of every project is rigorously examined to identify any potential hazards and to design the best outcome. This is particularly important where work is being conducted in live working environments or confined areas.

Only twenty years ago, cranes and oxy- torches were still the primary tools in reducing some structures, which put people right in the middle of the work being performed. Today, whilst cranes are extensively used, modern demolition practices and technology offer many alternatives thus eliminating or reducing the inherent hazards associated with removing structures where extreme heights are involved.

One very busy area of demolition these days is the removal of large tanks structures and tank farms, which were once a feature of every populated landscape. Some tanks are over 100 feet in height (30m) and their removal brought about a new methodology in which the IDES team are fully experienced.

It was determined that the large, high capacity, specialist metal shears that are fitted to take the place of the arm that normally holds the bucket on an excavator, could make several penetrations in a tank – and then safely collapse the tank in a controlled sequence into its own footprint. This then allows the machines to cut the tank walls and lid on the ground, and be safely removed with no naked flame or hot works.

The team has removed many tank farms throughout Australia and New Zealand in this way. The efficiencies of this method are quite astonishing when you consider that a tank removal that once took several men working from cranes weeks to perform, can now be effected by one man and one machine in a matter of hours with minimal risk and with no need for workers to enter the tank.

Industrial recently had a window of three hours to remove an old brick hotel building, which had been used as offices for many years in Yarraville, before the peak hour traffic commenced. The task would once have taken days and required scaffolding, jackhammers and several men working at heights. A skilled operator removed the building façade in a little over an hour with little noise, minimal dust and a significant reduction in safety hazards, not only to the site personnel but also to the general public. During the entire process the operator was at least 5-10 metres away from the actual work area.

Safety is the primary starting point for every job Industrial undertakes. Safety of personnel and the general public is always paramount in selecting the appropriate methodology. At the initial stage of a project, a team is put together to review the methodology, identify hazards and develop the risk register for the project.

Infocus

Planning – the foundation of every demolition project.

As each milestone is achieved in a project, the team debriefs on the success of the task and whether there is room for any improvements in the future. In this way, OH&S becomes a behavioural practice.

Last year IDES completed one of the largest and most complex demolition projects in its 35- year history. The massive Huntsman Chemical complex in Brooklyn Victoria comprised of a variety of major building structures, processing and storage vessels, chimneys, a water tower and various multi- storey manufacturing buildings, some of which were over 150 feet in height. Every potential hazard was identified. The project took almost 21,000 man-hours to complete with no LTI’s or MTI’s. It proves the system works.

The other significant area of change in the demolition industry over the past 20 years concerns the impact of what stood on the land – or in the land for generations. More often than not, where an industrial building has stood for many years, the ground beneath it has been impacted and must be remediated prior to redevelopment. Asbestos for example was present in most buildings up until 20 years ago. Today – every trace must be removed.

Fill materials underneath a redundant building placed there many decades beforehand, are often a real problem and can affect the economics of a project. The same planning process is adapted for environmental works as for demolition. Industrial Environmental Services works in tandem with the Demolition Services team in this instance and employs a number of technologies to address the soil abatement and remediation of sites.

InSitu

Thales – former Acid Plant Facility – Mulwala N.S.W.Industrial Demolition & Environmental Services recently completed a project for Thales in Mulwala, New South Wales. Thales Australia is part of a global business with 67,000 employees in 56 countries. In Australia, Thales employs 3,300 people at over 35 different locations.

Thales Australia provides a range of high technology products and services. These include command and control systems, communications and mission management systems, electronic warfare, sonar and underwater systems, training simulators, avionics, air traffic management, soldier systems, munitions and protected mobility vehicles.

The two business units worked together to demolish elements of a former Acid Plant, which involved the dismantling, removal and recycling of building and tank structures along with works associated with the remediation of the area for future uses.

The works required detailed excavation throughout the site to remove any hazardous materials and the placement of new base materials.

Environmental Services

7-Eleven Sites upgrading works.Industrial Environmental Services has recently undertaken a variety of projects for the 7-Eleven chain at various sites around Melbourne.

7-Eleven is one of the most recognisable retailing brand names in Australia today and it is hard to believe that the first franchise opened in Melbourne thirty-five years ago in Oakleigh. 7-Eleven Pty. Ltd. is an Australian Company owned by the Withers family.

This remarkable company had fairly humble roots in the United States when it was established as the Southland Ice Company in 1927. The company pioneered the concept

of convenience shopping where, in addition to ice, it sold groceries on weekends when other stores were shut. The name 7-Eleven was introduced in 1947 and in 1974, the company began licensing internationally.

7-Eleven has achieved many milestones in its 85-year history including more than 34,000 stores in 16 countries. In Australia, the company has been recognised as Franchiser of the Year by the Franchise Council of Australia in 2008 and 2009 and also as the acquirer of the Mobil Retail Fuels Business in 2010. Currently there are 644 7-Eleven/Mobil branded stores in Australia.

Today 7-Eleven continues to expand and to upgrade its facilities. Industrial has recently undertaken several infrastructure projects, which have included excavation of UPS infrastructure and remediation works associated with some of the company’s sites in greater Melbourne.

InSitu

M80 ProjectThe Western Ring Road is one of the most important arterial roads in Greater Melbourne –carrying up to 142,000 vehicles per day including more than 22,000 trucks. In its present form, the freeway exceeds its capacity particularly during peak periods along its entire length. This can be attributed to the unprecedented expansion of Melbourne’s growth corridors over the past 10 years and the emergence of new industrial precincts as well as the growth in transportation itself.

The new works which have been undertaken in stages to minimise disruption as much as possible, will see the emergence of a freeway system that is easier to use and capable of even greater traffic

capacities as well as the latest innovations in traffic management.

These will include, more lanes to make at least three in each direction, and up to six lanes between some interchanges. New dedicated exit lanes, overhead signs and electronic messaging boards, as well as significant landscaping and walling works will also contribute to a better driving experience, improved travel times and community amenity.

Major Australian contractor Thiess Services has contracted Industrial Environmental Services to assist with the remedial works. Currently the IES team have been working on a section of the upgrading works just south of the Hume Highway (see cover pic) unearthing the site of a former landfill

site on the current freeway boundary. Sites like this are not uncommon –as this land was once part of the outskirts of the metropolis a few decades ago.

As part of the remedial scope, Thiess commissioned IES to complete a detailed excavation utilising specialist attachments to ensure that the new freeway base has the correct specifications and is up to the task of carrying Melbourne’s commuters and heavy transport in the future.

Industrial Demolition & Environmental Services.P.O. Box 346 YarravilleVictoria 3013 (03) 9687 3877 (03) 9687 4084ABN 89 149 442 389www.industrialgroup.com.au

Industrial has been involved with Variety for more than two years now- having first entered a BASH car in 2010. Industrial Demolition & Environmental Services is planning to be part of the 2013 BASH program as well. The 2012 Bash raised 1.25 million dollars.

Last month, Industrial sponsored a table and was part of the Toyota AFL Great Grand Final Luncheon event, which saw a packed venue raise money for this very worthwhile cause. The event raised $178,000 on the day.

Now in its 27th year, Variety’s special AFL Luncheon has raised more than $900,000. This money assists Variety in its mission of empowering children who are sick, disadvantaged or that have special needs to live, laugh and learn. These are the rights of every child.

Industrial was part of a team that entered an Old 64 Chev Belair at the last BASH event, which travelled from Victoria to Western Australia. Plans for the next event are being developed and will be announced later this year in the Industrial Insight Magazine.

Industrial helps the kids at Variety’s Grand Final Event.

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Next edition:

• Industrial works on an Australian Icon

• Dandenong new City Centre -Civil Works

• Pile barge Number 31 to be broken up