Haulbowline Island East Tip Remediation Project
Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour was the location of Ireland’s only steelworks which operated between 1939 and 2001. From the early 1960s, steel slag waste from the steel production process was deposited on an area of reclaimed foreshore, which became known as the ‘East Tip’. This project involved the remediation of the East Tip and its transformation into a public recreational amenity.
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RPS, appointed by Cork County Council, delivered innovative and sustainable solutions at each stage of this complex project, from inception to conclusion. Initial stages included the preparation of an EIS, waste licence and planning applications for the remediation work. RPS managed a number of advance works contracts, the procurement process and construction stages of the main remediation works.
Key details
Project name
Haulbowline Island East Tip Remediation Project
 Client
Cork County Council
Location
Cork Harbour, Co. Cork, Ireland
Services provided
- Outline remediation design
- EIS
- Appropriate Assessment Stage 2 Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
- Waste licence applicationÂ
- Planning applicationÂ
- Hazardous Waste Classification
- Coastal modelling
- 3D digital terrain modelling
- Public Consultation
- Geotechnical services
- Metals Recovery Strategy
- Asbestos sampling and development of Management Plan
- Development of Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan
- Development of bespoke Outline Occupational Heath Monitoring System for this contaminated site
- Development of Communications Plan
- Management of construction phase
Challenge
The remediation works on the East Tip posed significant contractual, environmental, health and safety risks, in addition to strict conditions set out by the EPA Waste Licence. The nature of the waste material, the existing landform on site, along with the marine location and foreshore tidal zone presented a number of complex challenges.
Site investigations had identified evidence of asbestos on site as well as other hazardous waste in the slag waste. In addition, there was uncertainty regarding the processing of the large slag stockpiles on site. The ground conditions, a soft marine alluvium below concrete-like slag deposits, had to be managed to ensure the constructability of the perimeter structure in the foreshore.
The key challenges were to deliver an innovative design solution which addressed the remediation objectives and to manage the significant contractual risks.
Solution
An NEC Option C (Target Cost with Activity Schedule) contract was utilised on this project. This facilitated greater collaboration with the contractor and the allocation of the financial risks associated with these elements of the works more evenly between the Employer and Contractor.
RPS supported Cork County Council by delivering:
- Appropriate Assessment Stage 2 Natura Impact Statement (NIS)
- Management of environmental surveys and site investigations
- Development of procurement strategy and management process
- Development of remediation strategy & design
- Geotechnical services
- 3D DTM modelling of land form and geotechnical data from foreshore
- Design of access road
- Landscaping plan and amenity park design
- Metals recovery strategy
- Asbestos sampling and development of management plan
- Development of Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan
- Development of bespoke Outline Occupational Health Monitoring System
- Developing documents to facilitate re-use of steel slag
- Managing compliance with EPA waste licence including annual environmental reporting
- Development of communications plan
- Management of construction phase
- Commercial reporting
Project statistics
Volume of slag and other waste material capped
Length of perimeter engineered structure constructed in the foreshore
Length of silt curtain in Cork Harbour waters around the works area
of ferrous metal recovered
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