Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (13,036)	$ (6,348)	$ (57,342)	$ (183,189)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			38,764	48,031
Asset impairments and non-cash restructuring costs			13,602	40,190
Interest expense related to amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount	6,800	2,600	12,687	17,111
Stock-based compensation			1,379	2,984
Deferred income taxes			82	143
Net loss (gain) of unconsolidated joint ventures			6,069	(4,155)
Net gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment			(902)	(304)
Gain on convertible debt repayments			(2,350)	0
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables			(1,190)	1,235
Decrease in inventories			2,983	1,490
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(5,658)	(474)
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net			3,850	(10,034)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			11,974	(86,972)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and payments for acquisitions	(7,373)	(5,179)	(19,205)	(19,788)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment			1,336	420
Proceeds from sale of interests in joint ventures			18,522	0
Net decrease (increase) in long-term receivables and deposits			(99)	510
Net change in other assets			(875)	(1,089)
Net cash used in investing activities			(321)	(19,947)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			0	392,750
Payments on long-term debt			(32,931)	(342,509)
Debt issue costs			(1,040)	0
Employee stock purchases			484	546
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(33,487)	50,787
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(21,834)	(56,132)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			50,810	90,984
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	28,976	34,852	28,976	34,852
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	9,457	7,015	9,787	(60,365)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			38,661	47,959
Asset impairments and non-cash restructuring costs			13,602	39,210
Stock-based compensation			572	1,708
Deferred income taxes			55	(8,826)
Net gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment			(902)	(304)
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables			(1,190)	1,235
Decrease in inventories			2,983	1,490
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(4,739)	7,074
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net			(56,656)	(12,746)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			2,173	16,435
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and payments for acquisitions			(18,350)	(19,788)
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment			1,336	420
Net decrease (increase) in long-term receivables and deposits			(2,076)	510
Net change in other assets			(270)	(784)
Net cash used in investing activities			(19,360)	(19,642)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Employee stock purchases			349	417
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			349	417
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(16,838)	(2,790)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			36,122	21,168
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	19,284	18,378	19,284	18,378
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	236	1,723	(6,599)	4,215
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Deferred income taxes			27	174
Net loss (gain) of unconsolidated joint ventures			6,069	(4,155)
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net			(18,019)	(48)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(18,522)	186
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of interests in joint ventures			18,522
Net change in other assets				(186)
Net cash used in investing activities			18,522	(186)
Parent Company
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	(22,729)	(15,086)	(60,530)	(127,039)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			103	72
Asset impairments and non-cash restructuring costs				980
Interest expense related to amortization of debt issue costs and debt discount			12,687	17,111
Stock-based compensation			807	1,276
Deferred income taxes				8,795
Gain on convertible debt repayments			(2,350)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities			(919)	(7,548)
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net			78,525	2,760
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			28,323	(103,593)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and payments for acquisitions			(855)
Net decrease (increase) in long-term receivables and deposits			1,977
Net change in other assets			(605)	(119)
Net cash used in investing activities			517	(119)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt				392,750
Payments on long-term debt			(32,931)	(342,509)
Debt issue costs			(1,040)
Employee stock purchases			135	129
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(33,836)	50,370
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(4,996)	(53,342)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			14,688	69,816
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 9,692	$ 16,474	$ 9,692	$ 16,474