The Kooragang Island Waste Emplacement Facility (KIWEF) is located on the western portion of Kooragang Island, approximately 7km north of Newcastle’s City Centre. The area was previously used by BHP Newcastle Steelworks as a landfill site from the late 1960’s up to late 1999, when BHP ceased Steelworks operations. The NSW Government took possession of the site in 2002 and has since been undertaking progressive capping and related environmental improvement works to close the landfill.

The project consist of bulk earthworks and capping over 32 hectares known as Area 2 to be completed in accordance with an EPA endorsed Closure Plan. These works are delivered via a single construction contract HCCDC18/04 “KIWEF Area 2 Closure Works” over an approximately 52 week period.

The scope of works generally involves:
* Establishment of erosion and sedimentation controls and construction of sedimentation basins
* Removal of vegetation and strip of surface soils. Stockpile for re-use if deemed suitable
* Construction of surface drainage with liners to prevent
* General earthworks (cut/fill) to regrade surfaces with a final minimum 1% grade. Re-use, stockpile for use in revegetation, or screen and incorporate as fill for grading.
* Place 0.5m capping material over the regraded surface at a final minimum 1% grade. Compact the capping material to achieve a permeability of 1x10-7m/s.
* Place topsoil using stockpiled surface soils or imported topsoil and revegetate the disturbed area.
* Any cut material which is considered geotechnically unsuitable to use as fill shall be relocated to the proposed unsuitable material containment area.
* Any cut material significantly contaminated as defined a Materials Management Plans to be either disposed of offsite

Design documentation has been prepared by SMEC Australia. GC21 contract documents have been developed to address requirements of approval authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The project is subject to State and Federal Approvals. HCCDC have compiled a consolidated Environmental Management Plan which establishes the environmental monitoring, mitigation measures and controls necessary to meet authority requirements.

A significant component of the works involves progressive recording keeping, monitoring and auditing necessary to ensure protection of the environment. Specialist and experienced services in the areas of geotechnical and environmental services are a key element of the works.

In carrying out the major works the following items will also require due consideration and expertise:
* Stakeholder management of neighbouring industrial land and operations
* Site contamination associated with the former BHP Steelworks and management of risks associated with potentially contaminated materials
* Environmental management and protection of protected species including the amphibian Litoria Aurea (Green and Golden Bell Frog)