South 32 commissioned Liberty Industrial to demolish and remediate 98 redundant power poles and power lines owned by South 32 that fed the Elouera Colliery and Dendrobium Pit Top. Demolition of designated power poles included the removal of asbestos from poles and footings, the demolition and removal of footings to the nominated and reinstatement of power pole voids with VENM backfill, topsoil and turf. The project also involved the demolition and rehabilitation of the Greenhills substation including all above and below ground structures as well as the removal and disposal of blue metal gravel material.
Robust solutions
- Our team adopted two strategic approaches for the demolition of the power poles:
- The power poles located in urban areas or intricate private properties were rigged and lifted in sections using mobile cranes of appropriate sizes. The steel poles were cut using oxy-cutting tools, the timber poles were cut using chainsaws and the concrete poles were cut using concrete saws.
- The power poles located in rural areas or paddocks were induced collapsed manually or using an excavator. The base of the pole was weakened using oxy-cutting and pushed/pulled to predetermine a fall path.
- The substation was demolished using a 25t excavator fitted with shear, grabs, hammer and bucket attachments.
- Hot and cold cutting techniques were used to process the scrap material. Priority was given to processing the scrap mechanically with sheared excavator to minimise the risk to personnel from hot works and exposure to stored energy.
Exceptional outcomes
- All scrap steel and concrete material was transported and disposed of at a licensed recycling facility.
- The project was completed on time, within the agreed budget and without incident or injury.
