August/September 2023

Further progress has been made across the site following dry conditions in August/September.

September 2023 marks two years since the contractor began work onsite.

Key to having a functional site in the future is having safe access to all areas which will be designated as public space.

The road known as the Southern Access Track will be one of these important links around the site.

This road sits above the highest quarry face on the site and previously the size of vehicle using the track was quite limited.

Significant work was required to ensure that the road is protected from future erosion and can support the necessary pavement.

Long micropiles were installed deep into the ground to anchor and strengthen the road. The micropiles were then encased in concrete to form a beam on which the road pavement could be built and tied into.

As part of the works some of the road uphill slope was cut back to improve stability.

During August and September, this area was completed with the pouring of the concrete barrier and road pavement.

This will now allow safe access to this part of the site.

^{Images (top to bottom): Micropiles being installed. August 2022; Micropiles installed. August 2022; Micropiling capping beam being formed. Jan 2023; Finished capping beam. Jan 2023; Reinforcement and formwork for road pavement and road barrier. Aug 2023; Pouring concrete pavement. Aug 2023; Finished section of Southern Access Track. Sept 2023; Finished section of Southern Access Track and cut back slope above. Sept 2023}

June/July 2023

Good progress has been made across the site following mostly dry conditions in June and July.

The project has been extended by 164 days due inclement weather since the project started in September 2021.

In order to ensure a safe environment for the future parkland it is critical to ensure that the former quarry walls are secured and stabilised. These stabilisation works have involved the installation of rock bolts and rockfall mesh across the walls and provision of minor rock fall catch fencing. These works together with regrading some excessively steep earth slopes will provide a safe space for future park embellishments.

^{Images (top to bottom): Workers draping and attaching rockfall mesh; Rock bolting drilling rig; Draping and fixing rockfall mesh; Quarry face covered in mesh; Close-up of mesh; Rock fall catch fence at crest of quarry wall; Finished covered face with mesh and rock bolts.}

April/May 2023

Good progress has been made across the site following mostly dry conditions in May. Progress in April was impacted by the public holidays for Easter and Anzac Day and inclement weather.

There has been sustained progress on the construction of the drainage network across the site. Works have included the installation of stormwater drainage pipes along the Northern Access Track and construction of major drainage structures such as inlet structures, track racks and headwalls.

Earthworks to reshape the land to its future form have continued in the Quarry Void and Old Mans Valley including some rock excavation works at the southern end of Old Mans Valley to create a future carpark.

^{Images (top to bottom): Laying stormwater pipes; Construction of inlet structure; Construction of a coarse trash rack, headwall and Inlet structure; Construction of headwall; Earthworks in the Quarry Void; Dozer reshaping material in the Quarry Void; Excavation in Old Mans Valley for future carparking.}

February/March 2023

During February, the site was impacted by intense storms almost weekly. In one event, the site recorded over 30mm of rain within six minutes. These storms delayed the planned works and caused damage to existing works. With such severe rainfall events likely to continue impacting the site, it reinforces the need to provide significant drainage infrastructure within the site to deal with the large catchment of stormwater that enters the site from the adjoining areas.

During this period, there has been continued progress with the major trunk drainage works with Basin 1 & 2 now completed and the majority of the Reinforced Concrete Box Culverts now installed. Once completed, the trunk drainage system will transport stormwater through the site without causing damage to the adjacent environment and assets.

Other works have included continued earthworks on the main platforms in Old Mans Valley.

^{Images (top to bottom): Site awash after February Storm, Construction of Basin 1 – Trunk Drainage Line and Bulk earthworks in Old Mans Valley.}

December 2022/January 2023

December saw good progress across the site due to a very welcome spell of fine weather. The site was closed over the Christmas / New Year period with work resuming on 9 January 2023.

However, the site was once again impacted by more heavy deluges. This again hampered works, slowing progress in January.

Works have included bulk earthworks across the site, further placement and backfilling of box culverts for the Old Mans Valley Drainage Diversion and topsoiling on the Northern Spoil Mound.

^{Images (top to bottom): Backfilling culverts  – Old Mans Valley Drainage Diversion, Northern Spoil Mound}

October/November 2022

October saw further rain events continue to impact progress across the site. Topsoiling works progressed with an additional drain required to redirect water seepage. In the quarry void, filling continued during dry periods and there was work to remove loose rock which will be used in the retaining wall material.

There was good progress across the site in November due to a very welcome spell of fine weather. Works included the placement of box culverts for the Old Mans Valley Drainage Diversion, topsoiling and earthworks on the Northern Spoil Mound.

The current date for Practical Completion is February 2024. This includes a delay of 304 days due to wet weather-related issues, supply chain issues and scope changes.

^{Images (top to bottom): Top Soiling – Northern Spoil Mound – November 2022,  Culvert installation – November 2022}

August/September 2022 – Unfavourable weather hampers progress

At the end of August the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) confirmed that Sydney is on track for its wettest year ever after passing 2-metre milestone for only the fifth time.

The works underway at Hornsby Park are focussed on moving huge quantities of earth around to make the site safe and to create the platforms for future use.  When the soil becomes saturated, or underwater, work is impossible. This year we have already lost almost 120 working days as a result of wet weather. On 13 September the BOM officially declared that Australia’s east coast was experiencing the third La Niña weather system in a row, increasing the risk of rain and flooding  in the coming months (ABC News).

While every effort is being made to reduce the impacts of the weather through enhanced drainage solutions, until these are in place the site will continue to be inundated in major weather events.

We will continue to provide updates as to how this will impact timelines for the project while hoping that perhaps the BOM’s predictions won’t be so bad after all.

Pictures show how the Quarry Void has been flooded on two occasions this year, between which we’d just managed to get back to working on site, only to be delayed again.

^{Images (top to bottom): Site conditions – July 2022, Hornsby Quarry Void – 8 July 2022, Hornsby Quarry Void – 30 June 2022, April 2022}

February/March 2022 – Works delayed

During February and March 2022, Hornsby Shire local government area, including the Hornsby Quarry site experienced significant rainfall.

The rainfall over a one month period was 830mm which is over 70 percent of the annual average rainfall for Hornsby. The programmed works have been impacted as a result of this rainfall.