Nolans Tailings Storage Facility
ATC Williams undertook the detailed design and construction of the Nolans Tailings Storage Facility, which involved the expansion and encapsulation of the existing facility. The project incorporates a staged embankment construction, which introduces a new TSF, which will ultimately envelop the existing facility to form a single facility. The facility is designed for process inputs, including tailings from the process plant and dredged tailings relocated from an existing in-pit tailings storage facility.
The tailings beach design is such that the decant pond can be maintained in a minimum state and uses beach slope development to maximise the ultimate storage capacity of the facility.
The design comprises a rock and earthfill zoned embankment, Bituminous Geomembrane (BGM) liner system, decant return water system, and underdrainage return water system.
The facility is completely lined over the impoundment area and the upstream face of the embankment.
The decant return water system features an inclined decant structure constructed of upturned box culvert sections, galvanised steel access stairway and handrails, aluminium stop log segments and a guide rail (pictured). The decant structure reports to a subterranean concrete-encased decant outlet pipeline through the foundations that directs decant water downstream to a pre-cast collection chamber and pumping system for recirculation to the process plant.
The underdrainage system features a herringbone layout using a proprietary product, promoting tailings consolidation by providing two-way drainage from the base. The underdrainage system transfers consolidation water to the downstream collection chambers for recirculation via a series of outlet structures and buried pipelines.
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