RE-PURPOSING BABINDA AND MOURILYAN SUGAR MILL SITES: REMOVAL OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND REMEDIATION OF LAND CONTAMINATION

MSF SUGAR LIMITED (MSF Sugar) has undertaken intensive brownfield redevelopment of the former Babinda and Mourilyan Sugar Mill sites. Since 2012 demolition of all sugar milling infrastructure and remediation of contaminated land have been completed. IMEMS was originally commissioned to undertake pre-purchase environmental due-diligence review of North Queensland sugar mill sites including Babinda in 2009, including a desktop review of site land contamination. MSF Sugar subsequently entered into a joint venture operating agreement with Bundaberg Sugar and following a business review of all the milling assets in the joint venture, Babinda Mill ceased operations in February 2011. MSF Sugar acquired Bundaberg Sugar’s share of the Far North Queensland milling asset joint venture thereafter. Mourilyan Mill had previously ceased operations following impact of cyclone Larry in 2006, but was acquired by MSF Sugar as part of this asset sale. Contaminated land investigations commenced in 2011 with desktop investigations. Identified and potential sources of contamination on site were targeted for further investigations. In-field investigations at Babinda commenced in June 2012, including installation of 18 groundwater monitoring wells. A geophysical (underground) survey was undertaken in September 2012 over accessible areas of both sites. A demolition contract was awarded in December 2012 and demolition of site infrastructure and associated earthworks were completed in June 2015. Demolition, remediation and validation works have been completed to a standard whereby the complete Babinda site will be certified by the Contaminated Land Auditor (CLA) as suitable for any future (land) use. At the Mourilyan site, the majority of land will be certified as suitable for ongoing commercial and industrial land use and designated residential portions certified as suitable for any future use. Throughout this process, MSF Sugar CEO Mike Barry has been conscious of remediating the Babinda and Mourilyan sites for appropriate uses that primarily benefit and enhance the vision and future for the respective Babinda and Mourilyan townships and surrounding areas.