Finding a solution for Penrice waste

There has been no solution for the piles of Penrice waste, on the west and east side of the Port River,  since the Penrice soda ash factory in Osborne closed in 2014, when the company went into liquidation. As reported at the time, Penrice left ‘piles of problems for SA’.

The factory processed soda ash and sodium bicarbonate for over 80 years and generated waste byproducts that included calcium chloride, ammonia, and insoluble residues, which were pumped into the Port River. The River has greatly benefited from the cessation of that pollutant load.

However the Government of South Australia also allowed Penrice’s white calcite to form waste piles on Government land, on both sides of the River, and in 2023 the waste piles persist.

Penrice waste on east side of Port River, 22.3.2015

Penrice waste, east side of Port River November 2023

Penrice waste on west side of Port River, November 2023

Penrice waste, west side of Port River, November 2023

Since no use has been found for the calcite, the State Government has not realised an alternative use for the land, which was touted as potential industrial land.

Since attempts to address the problem of the waste piles (and their role as a  local eyesore) have failed, it is proposed that the State Government offer a significant prize for a cost effective solution to allow the land to be remediated.

There is a paucity of land along the River available for environmental restoration, and for public access, and the land could be productive for example as local wetlands. The Awards offered by the Society for Ecological Restoration demonstrate how innovation is very possible and could perhaps be realised by engaging university researchers/students, NGOs and community members.