CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 16,058	$ 7,137	$ (62,248)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	55,134	52,317	51,481
Interest expense related to amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount	2,175	5,841	14,184
Stock-based compensation	2,165	1,703	1,737
Deferred income taxes	1,666	698	198
Net loss (gain) on disposition of property, plant and equipment	95	(649)	(538)
Loss (gain) on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(2,727)	55	(267)
Asset impairments	1,815	0	13,166
Net loss of unconsolidated joint ventures	529	0	9,314
Gain on convertible debt repayments	0	(35)	(2,479)
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables	517	(5,035)	(9,792)
Decrease (increase) in inventories	(2,347)	2,221	2,954
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(13,225)	(4,218)	27,443
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net	(1,478)	(1,472)	1,016
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	60,377	58,563	46,169
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions	(94,998)	(43,250)	(996)
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,875)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	0	18,522
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(35,799)	(29,119)	(26,447)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	905	791	1,261
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations	4,666	4,813	2,000
Net decrease (increase) in long-term receivables and deposits	7,445	(1,171)	(42)
Net change in other assets	(2,162)	(437)	(706)
Net cash used in investing activities	(121,818)	(68,373)	(6,408)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	0	77,957	0
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	146,650	0	0
Payments on long-term debt	(7,792)	(47,355)	(36,334)
Debt issue costs	0	0	(1,090)
Dividends paid to non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary	(950)	0	0
Employee stock purchases	759	742	635
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	138,667	31,344	(36,789)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	77,226	21,534	2,972
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	75,316	53,782	50,810
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	152,542	75,316	53,782
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Increase in accrued liabilities for acquisition-related commitment	2,614	0	1,467
Exchange of convertible senior subordinated notes	0	0	49,791
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	42,572	37,290	40,878
Cash paid for income taxes	$ 1,729	$ 2,537	$ 1,391