Petrie Paper Mill

The Petrie Paper Mill, formerly owned and operated by Orora (previously Amcor), was a significant industrial site located in Brisbane's northern suburbs. The site encompassed seven hectares of industrial buildings, tanks, chimney stacks, and processing plants, alongside 30 hectares of wastewater treatment ponds and 28 hectares of onsite registered landfills. DECC was engaged as the Principal Contractor to manage the comprehensive demolition of the mill’s infrastructure and the construction of new landfill cells to accommodate the disposal of large volumes of contaminated soils and waste materials generated during the site’s operation.

Industrial Demolition: DECC was responsible for the complete demolition of all site improvements to a depth of one metre. This included the dismantling of high-bay steel portal framed buildings, administration buildings, outbuildings, and heavy concrete structures such as the boiler house and power plant. The demolition was executed in three stages, utilising a combination of conventional demolition techniques and induced collapse methods, in accordance with AS2601.

Hazardous Material Removal: Prior to demolition, DECC coordinated the removal of all hazardous materials, including asbestos, synthetic mineral fibres (SMF), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The asbestos removal was undertaken by a Class A licensed contractor, ensuring full compliance with safety and environmental regulations. Clearance certificates were issued progressively, allowing the safe commencement of structural demolition.

Onsite Crushing and Recycling: Approximately 50,000 tonnes of concrete were crushed onsite to a 20/50mm minus product, which was then used for the construction of haul roads during the remediation works. DECC achieved a recycling rate exceeding 98%, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Construction of Landfill Cells: DECC was awarded contracts for the construction of Cell 7 in 2017 and Cell 8 in 2019. These cells were designed to increase the capacity of the onsite Engineered Landfill Facility by upwards of 200,000m³. The construction involved bulk excavation, subgrade preparation, and the installation of geosynthetic clay liners (GCL), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners, and leachate collection systems. These landfill cells were essential for accommodating the waste materials generated from the demolition and remediation activities.

Remediation Works: The remediation phase included the excavation and relocation of 150,000m³of processing waste scattered and buried across the 200-hectare site into the onsite licensed landfill. This process was carried out under full Quality Assurance compliance and strict environmental controls, ensuring that all waste was managed in accordance with regulatory requirements.