New South Wales government ‘suppressed’ report showing carcinogen risk in stadium demolition.

A legal challenge to the New South Wales government’s controversial plan to demolish Sydney’s Allianz Stadium before next month’s state election has heard the government “suppressed” the release of a report showing the site was contaminated with potentially carcinogenic material.

In his opening address Tim Robertson, barrister for Local Democracy Matters – group opposing the demolition, argued the government had failed to exhibit the development application for the required period, didn’t follow design excellence criteria and failed to follow its own rules on contaminated soils.

During the trial on Wednesday, Robertson said the government had “suppressed” information about contamination on the site – pointing to a consultants report prepared for the government which found “carcinogenic” materials on the site, as well as a number of other contaminants.

A draft version of the report was prepared in June – during the exhibition period for the stadium demolition. Robertson told the court the report should have prompted “further investigation” by the government.

“That fact was known by Infrastructure NSW, but suppressed,” he said. “They knew it during the exhibition period.”

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Post-Grenfell investigation earmarks two blocks for demolition.

Two landmark Portsmouth tower blocks are set to be demolished after work to strengthen them was estimated to cost £86 million, according to reports in The Construction Enquirer.

Problems with structural concrete were uncovered when cladding was removed from the two 18-storey towers in Somerstown following the Grenfell tragedy.

Detailed structural reports commissioned to decide what to replace the cladding with at Leamington House and Horatia House buildings revealed more deep-seated problems.

Structural engineers Wilde Carter Clack found the original 1965 concrete slab construction was extremely poor.

The surface of floor panels in some areas appeared to have been sprayed with water or rained on and the aggregate was exposed. In other places there was evidence of foot prints.

Read more here.

Liberty Industrial invests in excavator training simulation technology

Award-winning Australian demolition giant Liberty Industrial has invested in a state-of-the-art Volvo excavator training simulator. The simulator will travel between Liberty Industrial’s project sites in a purpose built trailer unit that has been converted into a mobile training centre.

The latest in excavator simulation training technology, the Volvo Advanced Training Simulator 5.0 is inspired by aviation industry simulation training, and allows the operator to immerse themselves in a realistic virtual experience. The simulator features a high definition screen and includes realistic graphics and sounds, and a full motion platform incorporating movement and vibration that mimics the experience of operating a machine in a true-to-life scenario.

Operators will navigate simulated demolition, remediation and civil environments, undertaking a range of different virtual excavator operation training exercises such as shearing, sorting, processing, breaking, earth moving, rock handling and high reach demolition training.

Liberty Industrial is the first Australian contractor to invest in this kind of excavator simulation training equipment, with the only other known excavator simulators in Australia being owned and operated by peak Australian civil construction industry body, the Civil Contractors Federation.

Erith Contractors, NFDC and IDE make massive charitable donation.

Erith Contractor’s managing director and outgoing Institute of Demolition Engineers’ president David Darsey has handed over a pair of massive cheques to David Roberts of the Niemann-Pick UK charity last week.

The Niemann-Pick UK charity works closely with families and individuals living with Niemann-Pick and helps them manage this life-limiting disease. The Niemann-Pick diseases are a group of rare lysosomal storage disorders that can affect both children and adults.

David Darsey has been personally affected by Niemann-Pick for the past two years following the birth of his granddaughter, Nancy, in November 2016. Shortly after Nancy’s birth, the Darsey family received the devastating news that she had been diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Type C. Darsey has since gone to great lengths to raise money for NPUK and increase awareness of this rare and heart-breaking disease.

In June 2018, Darsey hosted a fundraiser for NPUK, Nancy’s Night Out, in homage to his granddaughter. The event was a huge success, raising significant funds through ticket sales, auctions and generous donations which will be used to provide care and support to families in need.

David Roberts, Trustee at NPUK, visited Erith’s London office where David Darsey presented him with two cheques. The first was on behalf of Erith Contractors Limited for the sum of £64,000.00 raised at Nancy’s Night Out. The second was on behalf of the IDE who generously contributed and additional £5,000.00 to this worthy cause from their auction and raffle at the AGM last November.