The 110-metre chimney stack at Tasmania’s former Bell Bay Power Station has been brought down in a controlled blast.
It marks the end of an era for the site and clears the way for a $1.7 billion green energy project.
The demolition on Monday morning used 41 kilograms of explosives to topple the structure – nearly 50% taller than Hobart’s Wrest Point Casino.
It was the third and final major blast at the site, with contractor McMahon Services Australia managing the complex operation.
Craig Emmet, Hydro Tasmania’s Head of Asset Environment Strategy and Risk, said the stack’s removal had been carefully planned over 18 months.
“None of these jobs are easy. This is a very complex job,” he said.
“McMahon, our contractor that’s been looking after this job, has done a fantastic package of work today to see this safely on the ground and has now commenced their clean-up for the last part of this site.”
A 400-metre exclusion zone was enforced around the blast site.
The demolition began in April 2024, with final site clean-up expected by April this year.
Liberal Member for Bass Michael Ferguson said the demolition paved the way for Bell Bay Powerfuels, a green methanol facility set to create more than 700 jobs.
“This is a game-changer, not just for our local economy,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Long-term producing renewable energy, liquid fuel in the transport sector that’s the equivalent of up to 2,200 heavy vehicles per year.”
The facility will produce up to 45,000 tonnes of green methanol annually, enough to power more than 2,000 trucks.
For former workers, the demolition stirred mixed emotions.
Chris Ashley, who worked as a production supervisor at the station from 1991 to 2006, said the stack had been a landmark for George Town for decades.
“They’ll be devastated. It’s been part of George Town for many, many years now, since the early 70s,” he said.
“That’s what you see first when it hits you in the face.”
His son, Chris Ashley Junior, now works for Hydro Tasmania in IT and recalled visiting his father at the site as a child.
“You can’t not see it. It’s guiding yourself in some respects,” the younger Mr Ashley said.
“It’ll be sad to see it go, but it’s going to be really interesting to see the new phase of the life of the grounds.”
Ashley Senior revealed that about 30 workers had their names engraved on a steel ring inside the top of the stack when it was refurbished around 2000 – a piece of history now buried in the rubble.
Abel Energy is expected to begin major construction works on the Bell Bay Power Fuels project once the site is fully cleared.
