McMahon Services completed significant demolition of properties as part of the Northern Beaches Hospital connectivity and network enhancement project.
The NSW Government is investing $500 million to upgrade the roads around the new Northern Beaches Hospital with work proposed to be completed in time
for the hospital opening in 2018. The upgrades will provide customers with a better travel experience, increased capacity on the road network and improved access through the area, including for pedestrians and cyclists.
Ferrovial York Joint Venture (FYJV) were engaged by Roads and Maritime to carry out the project. FYJV contracted McMahon Services to undertake the demolition of a number of residential and commercial buildings including the removal of asbestos.
The demolition of properties within the Frenchs Forrest area included Hilmer Street houses and nursing home, nine buildings within the former Bantry Bay Road Shopping Precinct and four buildings at the Fitzpatrick site.
McMahon Services were awarded additional scope throughout the execution of the works including the remediation of a 7-11 service station. The former 7-11 service station on Warringah Road had been operating since the early 1970’s. During this time it had many remedial upgrades due to hydrocarbons leaking into the ground and surrounding areas.
McMahon Services were challenged with removing the old fibreglass tanks without disturbing or placing at risk, the existing road infrastructure on Warringah Road and Hilmer Street. After thorough investigation, an engineered solution was adopted based on existing soil reports
and boreholes. This enabled us to dig nearly 7m down to remove and validate remaining soils, whilst maintaining a 2 metre buffer zone from the footpath that remained operational for pedestrian access throughout the process.
Additional asbestos containing materials (ACM) were also encountered during demolition of buildings. This required an additional hazmat report to include all ACM products within the properties before further demolition activities could commence.
When buildings had been cleared, it was noted that ACM products not found in the buildings themselves were becoming apparent in surrounding soils of properties. Additional testing / sampling and reporting was carried out and the conclusion was that three of the four sites were all built on imported fill containing ACM.
Careful management was required due to the high-risk nature of working with asbestos and the potential for public concern. As industry leaders in the management of asbestos, McMahon Services were able to effectively manage the ACM utilising in-house trained personnel within our demolition team. Our personnel were able to quickly implement all required asbestos systems and procedures to ensure the contaminated material was removed and disposed of safely.
