Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri has appointed CMA Contracting to demolish the smelter infrastructure, a 2-3 year project that is a significant step towards future redevelopment of the site.

Following the closure of its Kurri Kurri smelter, Hydro Aluminium is continuing to prepare the Kurri Kurri smelter site and buffer zone for redevelopment that will ultimately provide increased economic activity and employment in the local area.

A key part of this work is in the demolition and remediation of the smelter site to allow for future business and industrial development.

Hydro Kurri Kurri Managing Director, Richard Brown, said he is pleased with the announcement.

“The tendering process for this part of the project has taken around 18 months, with key criteria being safety standards, experience with similar large projects, and environmental management, as well as commercial considerations,” Richard said.

“We have taken some time to review proposals from a number of organisations, as we believe that safety and environmental management are key to this work.

“CMA will mobilise with a specialist demolition working crew which includes locally based personnel. There is opportunity for this local involvement to grow throughout the course of the project, with the use of additional labour and/or subcontractors for specific work elements both on and off site.”

The demolition of the Kurri Kurri smelter site is planned to start in May this year, and take between 2 and 3 years to complete. Local residents will be informed about specific impacts and activities such as truck movements closer to the start of the demolition.

CMA Contracting has operated for more than 30 years in large-scale industrial demolition and resource sector plant deconstruction, including the demolition of steel works, chemical and petrochemical plants and power plants.

IMAGE | Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri has announced CMA Contracting as the demolition contractor for the smelter infrastructure.