Former Gas Works off-site remediation

Off-site areas predominantly within Dumaresq Creek, adjacent to the Armidale Central shopping complex, are now the focus of ongoing work by Armidale Regional Council to complete remediation of the former gas works site in Armidale.

In 2005 the main site of the former Armidale Gasworks, now the site of the Armidale Vicinity Shopping Centre was remediated prior to the construction of the shopping complex. Earlier this year council reached the point of finalisation to prove the remediation and meet its obligations of the site auditor and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Three areas are required to be remediated and include: 

• The Dumaresq Street footpath - on the northern side of the Armidale Central lot from the culvert on Dumaresq Creek to the driveway access off Dumaresq Street – critical to allow service relocation work for ARC and Essential Energy.
• The Wedge – the creek bank and creek adjoining the west side of the Armidale Central development from Allingham Street to the culvert on Dumaresq Creek at Dumaresq Street. 

• Harris Park – the fenced off section of Harris Park to the west of the Belgrave Cinema. 

The remediation work will run concurrently with Stage 1 of the Armidale Creeklands masterplan. Stage 1 encompasses the open space area and Dumaresq Creek that surrounds the Monckton Aquatic Centre between Albion Park and Dumaresq Street. Stage 1 of the master plan has been funded with $3 million secured through the NSW Government’s Public Spaces Legacy Project.