Cornwall's Domtar demolition on track

Demolition of the former Domtar paper mill in Cornwall has reached the point where parts of the facility are now noticeably absent.

CORNWALL

Demolition of the former Domtar paper mill in Cornwall has reached the point where parts of the facility are now noticeably absent.

While work is still focusing on the removal of reusable components and recyclable metals, several wood and bricks-and-mortar structures have been razed. Much of the outer sheet-steel skin has been removed, allowing a bird’s-eye view into what, for many generations, was the community’s largest employer.

The demolition efforts received a bit of unwanted help when a fire broke out recently in the part of the facility that was previously used for recycling purposes. The fire ate through the roof and steel skin of the multi-storey structure.

While little is known as yet about possible future development on the site, an information meeting held by the City of Cornwall to gauge public preference revealed a majority of those who attended preferred to adopt a “wait-and-see” attitude rather than limiting possibilities through proactive rezoning.

The Domtar facility, which operated in Cornwall for 123 years, is located on 120 acres of prime real estate.

Paris Holdings, the group behind the purchase of the property from Domtar, has indicated that full demolition and remediation of the site will require from two to three years.