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SAFETY upgrades at Lithgow’s historic Blast Furnace Site are gathering momentum.
A tender was accepted from Murphy’s Construction at Monday’s council meeting for stage one of the restoration and remedial works at the site at a cost of nearly half a million dollars.
Stage one costs of $456,093.33 will focus on the stabilisation of the ruins including the repair of brickwork, removal of plant growth, replacing broken-damaged metal tie rods, waterproofing and capping tops of brickwork, repairing spalling concrete lintels and removing and replacing embedded metal parts.
These essential safety works to the site are crucial to the future success of stage two of the project, which will reportedly include fencing, a boardwalk, interpretive signage and further external connections.
It is anticipated the works will begin in a few weeks time, with an official start date to be advised by the council.
Once under way, it is hoped work will be completed close to March 2016.
Council received four tenders for the project.
Murphy’s Construction secured the contract after providing the best value for money, as well as impressive experience.
“Other large restoration projects undertaken by Murphy’s Construction demonstrated their capability for this project,” Lithgow City Council’s acting Group Manager Corporate and Community Matthew Johnson said.
With only the finalisation of contracts to be completed before the Stage One works begin, the future of the Blast Furnace precinct as a significant tourist attraction and heritage site is fast becoming a reality.
The blast furnace was the site of the beginning of the iron and steel industry in Australia.
The furnace was established in 1886 by William Sandford and operated until 1928 when production was moved to Port Kembla.
Rehabilitation was not as large a prerequisite in the 1930s as it is today and for many years the site was a backwater of Lithgow’s historic attractions.