(City of Newcastle)
Newy 87.8 FM – Almost all material removed from Queens Wharf West has been recovered for recycling, as City of Newcastle's demolition project moves into a critical next phase.
Twenty-eight tonnes of material have been removed so far, with 19 tonnes of wood, brick, concrete, plasterboard and PVC coming from the internal strip-out and knock down of awnings and balconies.
Another nine tonnes of scrap metal was separated and sent to a local sustainable steel manufacturer to be smelted back into virgin or pure metal.
Approximately 98 per cent of the material removed so far has been recycled, far exceeding the NSW EPA average recycling rate of 80 per cent across construction and demolition projects.
Demolition started in July, with weeks of work completed to strip out the building and remove redundant services and external structures. The main structure is set to start coming down next week.
City of Newcastle Project Manager Darryn Costanzo said it's a complex demolition given the site is built up over the water, with work timed around tides and weather. He said much of the power, gas and water for the Queens Wharf Hotel and surrounding public spaces is fed from the building being demolished, with extra care taken to maintain those services.
Executive Director City Infrastructure David Witherdin said the results reflect the council's commitment to sustainable construction practices.
A decision on the long-term future of the site is expected in 2027.
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