Restoring Government Assets and Community Safety

In 2022, Lismore was devastated by catastrophic flooding, leaving homes, government buildings, and critical infrastructure uninhabitable. The Department of Public Works engaged John Ling (Head Contractor), who partnered with Combined Demolition Services (CDS) to deliver essential demolition, hazardous material removal, and remediation works.
Over a 12-month period, CDS deployed 40–50 trained personnel, working alongside tier-one builders including Woolems and Basics, to restore government assets and support the wider community recovery.

Restoring Government Assets and Community Safety

In 2022, Lismore was devastated by catastrophic flooding, leaving homes, government buildings, and critical infrastructure uninhabitable. The Department of Public Works engaged John Ling (Head Contractor), who partnered with Combined Demolition Services (CDS) to deliver essential demolition, hazardous material removal, and remediation works.
Over a 12-month period, CDS deployed 40–50 trained personnel, working alongside tier-one builders including Woolems and Basics, to restore government assets and support the wider community recovery.

Scope of Works

  • Demolition of unsafe structures across affected sites.
  • Asbestos removal and disposal under strict WHS and environmental regulations.
  • Mould remediation and drying programs to restore flood-damaged homes.
  • Lead remediation and contamination management for government assets.
  • Rapid mobilisation of skilled teams and resources to meet program demands.

Leadership on the Ground

CDS was led in the field by Michael Limpus and Jake Moyle, who coordinated operations directly with government stakeholders and head contractors. Their leadership ensured consistent communication, proper sequencing of works, and on-time delivery of critical government projects.

Managing Risk in a Complex Environment

The Lismore disaster created unique challenges: disturbed asbestos, widespread mould, and compromised structures. CDS applied its Integrated Management System (IMS) to manage risks, maintain compliance with ISO standards, and safeguard both workers and the community.

Key Outcomes

  • Government assets restored to operational safety.
  • Community protection through professional asbestos, lead, and mould removal.
  • Swift, scalable workforce deployment, maintaining a 40–50 person team on site.
  • Collaboration with multiple contractors, ensuring seamless recovery operations.

Value Delivered to Government

By combining technical expertise with responsive project management, CDS enabled faster reopening of public facilities, reduced long-term health and environmental risks, demonstrated capacity to deliver large-scale recovery projects under pressure, and strengthened trust between government agencies and local contractors.

Our Commitment

“For us, this project was about more than demolition—it was about restoring safety, confidence, and progress for the community.” – Michael Limpus, Project Lead, Combined Demolition Services

CDS stands ready to partner with government and tier-one contractors on future projects requiring asbestos removal, demolition, and complex remediation at scale.