Future perfect

Times are changing and so are our attitudes towards the environment. Before the Green Square project occupied this site, it was home to an old council depot. Past practices in terms of the management of site-filling and waste meant that contaminated soil remained after the removal of the old council buildings.

The building site had been recorded in the Queensland EPA Environmental Management Register (EMR) as contaminated land. Rectification of this contributed to Green Square's Green Star rating. Geo-environmental consultants Butler Partners assisted Leighton Properties in removing contaminated soil during construction. In Queensland, this soil needs to be tested at a rate of one sample per 50m³. As part of this work, Butler Partners also removed an old underground fuel storage tank from the site.

The soil remaining on site following remediation was validated as being clean and reusable and the site was removed from the EMR.

"Our main concerns on this site were heavy metals and certain hydrocarbon compounds associated with ash and fuel storage," says principal Suzanne Walker.

Clean and contaminated soils were separated during construction. Clean soil was reused where possible, while contaminated soil was disposed of to landfill.

For more information, contact Butler Partners, 79 Doggett Street, Newstead, Queensland 4006, phone (07) 3852 3800, fax (07) 3852 3808. Email: enquiries@butlerpartners.com.au. Or visit the website: www.butlerpartners.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas