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CLOSURE AND REHABILITATION OF ALCOA’S KWINANA REFINERY RESIDUE STORAGE AREAS ABC

Robless, R. and Cooling, D.

Residue Storage Areas A, B & C (Areas ABC) were operated between 1963 and 1976, with approximately 13.4 million tonnes of residue material deposited. The deposits have been progressively de-watered between 1974 to 2000 allowing for a reduction in alkalinity of the entrained water within the deposit and assisting with consolidation of the deposit. Since 1992, washed residue sand has been used to cap and re-contour the surface of the storage areas and improve the suitability of the areas for future land use.

Areas ABC are Alcoa’s first residue areas to be closed in WA. The land on which these storage areas are located is leased from the State Government, and part of the closure process requires return of the land to Landcorp, the State Government agency responsible for the site. Prior to this handback, management plans for the area were developed and these are discussed in this paper. Parts of Areas ABC were handed back to Landcorp in March 2000 and have since been incorporated into the Motorplex site, which was opened in December 2000.