CMPA Update (Issue 16)
Membership Renewals
Members of the CMPA will find enclosed their membership renewal packs with the newsletter .
Fees have increased in accordance with the CPI and have been rounded to the nearest $10.
Membership renewals would be appreciated by August 31st to allow planning for the next 12 months.
Gold Membership
Over the last few years, the CMPA has nominated the “Special Works Fund” on membership forms. As noted by Mr Phillips, “Voting Members would easily recognise the importance of the Special Works Fund in ensuring that their needs are met and the industry is best represented”.
There are three important changes:
- Only Voting Members are invited to contribute as it was felt that it is unfair to ask more of the Associate Members.
- Wording has changed to Gold Membership Subscription. The wording change effects the handling for taxation purposes meaning that GST can be claimed.
- An amount of $250 per active site is recommended.
General Meeting November 26
The next CMPA General Meeting is to be held on November 26th covering ‘Working at Heights’ and ‘Weighbridge Software.’
William Adams are thanked for the use of their Clayton facility for this evening.
Meeting with Shadow Ministers
The CMPA has been invited to an introductory meeting with the Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources, Mr Bill Forwood on Tuesday 20th July. A full report will be supplied in the next newsletter.
WELL Funding 2004
The Work Safely training has been going strongly with members supporting and encouraging their employees in their training endeavours. There have been 61 persons trained to date in 2004, with July’s Benalla course and August’s Melbourne course filling quickly.
If you would like to send anyone to either of these courses, please contact the CMPA as soon as possible.
The Local Risk Control unit is to commence in the next five weeks with full details being sent out to members as soon as possible. Expressions of interest are invited with the first course earmarked for Melbourne. Course location will be at minimum:
Melbourne · Ballarat
Horsham · Bendigo
Benalla · Traralgon
However, if you would like a course closer to you, contact the CMPA with the names of at least 10 other interested people and a course will be held in your preferred location.
EPA Air Quality SEPP
Work has recommenced on the EPA’s air quality SEPP with a meeting to be held later this month. Members will be kept up-to-date on this issue.
Review of Statement of Purpose
Members are asked to consider the refining of the present Statement of Purpose which will be used to lend support and guidance to the Secretariat and all committees under the banner of the CMPA to fulfil their roles.
The Statement of Purpose will need to give clear purpose for members (both paid up and potential) and others who the CMPA interacts with. It would also need to ensure that the reasons for the CMPA’s foundation are not forgotten.
Members will be supplied with the revised Statement of Purpose in the near future.
Amendment to the OHS (Asbestos) Regulations
WorkCover has held a meeting with the mining and extractive sectors, including the CMPA, to provide an overview of the proposed changes to the Asbestos Regulations and an opportunity for early comment. The issue for our sector is the inadvertent capture of mines and quarries that have traces of asbestos in the minerals and stone. A submission will be made on this issue and members with a potential issue will be contacted directly. At this stage further research is required, however members will be provided with a fact sheet in the near future.
Promotion of the Extractive Industries to VCE students
The CMPA is presently investigating means of promoting the extractive industries to VCE students throughout the state. One method that has been recommended is for individual companies to approach their local schools to advertise their business. Members will be kept informed.
Revision of the National Exposure Standards for Silica
The CMPA has presented a secondary submission in relation to the proposed RIS. As seen in the ACCI submission to NOHSC, the CMPA’s efforts have not gone unnoticed and members are thanked.
Submission into Sustainable Communities
The CMPA recently made a submission into Parliament’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee in relation to their Inquiry into Sustainable Communities. Key points made by the CMPA included:
The enhancement/establishment of an Environmental Purchasing Policy to encourage preferential selection of materials that minimised transport usage.
The enhancement/establishment of an Environmental Purchasing Policy to encourage resources requiring minimal energy to process.
Reviewing of state and local planning policies to take into account the positive effects of having a resource located in close proximity to the community that it serves.
The publication of a guideline document for the extractive industries on energy efficiency.
Web Site Review
The CMPA website is presently under review with quotes having been sought from several providers.
Storage of Explosives
With an increased awareness of security throughout society, it is not surprising that the extractive industries has come under the spotlight in regards to the storage of explosives.
It is recommended that members consider storing only minimum quantities of explosives on site between shots. This means ordering only what you require and arranging pickup for any remaining stock following a shot.
Terms and Conditions Documentation
Members would be aware the one of the major projects presently being undertaken by the CMPA is the development of generic terms and conditions documentation. This is in the process of being presented to the CCF after which time it will be represented to the major construction material processing companies. It is expected to be completed in early 2005 due to the large amount of consultation required.
Quarry Managers Afternoon Workshop
All quarry managers are asked to consider attending a free presentation in Melbourne on September 8th by Mr John Mitas, Chief Inspector of Quarries, DPI, regarding the direction of the DPI and issues they see within the quarry industry.
Please note that there are only 20 positions available.
Industry Liaison Agent
Unfortunately, the Minister for Energy Industries and Resources, The Hon. Theo Theophanous has informed the CMPA that there is no possibility for a Government funded Industry Liaison Agent. This issue will be put to the side for 12 months after which time investigations will recommence.
Melbourne 2030
The Department of Sustainability and Environment is currently undertaking long term urban planning in fringe areas (including Werribee, Melton, Caroline Springs, and the Casey-Cardinia area). DPI planning and policy staff are involved in this planning process, communicating the value of extractive industry resources to the State.
It was pleasing to note that the extractive industries were contacted in relation to Melbourne 2030, and input has been made by the Association.
ACE 2005
The CMPA has again been invited to be involved in ACE 2005, an invitation which the Management Committee was happy to accept.
At this early stage members (both Voting and Associate) are invited to submit any videos that they may have of their company which would draw people to the CMPA stand.
Completion of Statistical Returns
All Work Authority holders would have recently received their statistical returns for the 2003-04 financial year.
According to John Mitas from the DPI, for the purposes of reporting the number of persons working at quarries and working hours the following definition should be used:
“All employees including office staff and all contractors and sub-contractors working within the work authority should be included.
Contractors and sub-contractors employed by the quarry to deliver material should also be included, however ex-bin carriers are to be excluded.”
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