Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (183,189)	$ (25,420)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	48,031	44,501
Interest expense related to amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount	17,111	11,961
Stock-based compensation	2,984	3,763
Deferred income taxes	143	(3,336)
Net gains of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,155)	(12,938)
Net gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment	(304)	(1,167)
Asset impairment	38,000	3,462
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables	1,235	(5,671)
Decrease (increase) in inventories	1,490	(3,393)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(474)	3,887
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net	(7,844)	(6,368)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(86,972)	9,281
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(17,322)	(19,660)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	420	3,610
Net decrease (increase) in long-term receivables and deposits	510	(7,171)
Payments for acquisitions	(2,466)	0
Net change in other assets	(1,089)	(168)
Net cash used in investing activities	(19,947)	(23,389)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	392,750	316,187
Payments on long-term debt	(342,509)	(269,795)
Other debt issue costs	0	(2,456)
Employee stock purchases	546	556
Net cash provided by financing activities	50,787	44,492
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(56,132)	30,384
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	90,984	15,934
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	34,852	46,318
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(128,696)	(42,414)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	72	104
Interest expense related to amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount	17,111	11,961
Stock-based compensation	1,276	1,296
Deferred income taxes	8,795	(6,718)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(7,548)	6,261
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net	5,397	1,202
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(103,593)	(28,308)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(27)
Net decrease (increase) in long-term receivables and deposits		1,000
Net change in other assets	(119)	(358)
Net cash used in investing activities	(119)	615
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	392,750	316,187
Payments on long-term debt	(342,509)	(269,795)
Other debt issue costs		(2,456)
Employee stock purchases	129	86
Net cash provided by financing activities	50,370	44,022
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(53,342)	16,329
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	69,816	18,881
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	16,474	35,210
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(54,493)	16,994
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	47,959	44,397
Stock-based compensation	1,708	2,467
Deferred income taxes	(8,652)	3,382
Net gains of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,155)	(12,938)
Net gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment	(304)	(1,167)
Asset impairment	38,000	3,462
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables	1,235	(5,671)
Decrease (increase) in inventories	1,490	(3,393)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	7,074	(2,374)
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net	(13,241)	(7,570)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	16,621	37,589
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(17,322)	(19,633)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment	420	3,610
Net decrease (increase) in long-term receivables and deposits	510	(8,171)
Payments for acquisitions	(2,466)
Net change in other assets	(970)	190
Net cash used in investing activities	(19,828)	(24,004)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Employee stock purchases	417	470
Net cash provided by financing activities	417	470
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,790)	14,055
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	21,168	(2,947)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 18,378	$ 11,108