VITAL CMPA UPDATES (Issue 24)

Sarah Andrew, CMPA Project Manager

GUARDING BLITZ

Members should be aware that the DPI is preparing an auditing blitz targeting guarding for the first quarter of 2006. The Christmas break would be an opportune time to ensure that all guarding satisfactorily meets current requirements. (See AS 1755-2000)

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Thank you and welcome to all those who renewed their membership or recently became CMPA members. Your support is greatly appreciated and ensures that the association continues to meet industry needs.

Please note that the newsletter has now been limited to financial members of the association and key regulatory persons. If you are aware of anyone who should receive the newsletter, ask them to contact me.

TRANSPORT CONTRACT

As members may be aware, as a result of the recently created Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act 2005 formal, written agreements are now required between a cartage contractor and the hirer for all longer term contracts (i.e. greater than 30 days).

The CMPA is presently in the process of developing such a contract for members use when formalising these agreements. We anticipate this to be available early in the new year.

There are a considerable number of other requirements of the Act which will apply to members businesses. For further information, see www.business.vic.gov.au and follow the links from ‘Home’ to ‘Industrial Relations’ then ‘Better Performing Workplaces’.

Alternatively, contact Briony or Sarah for further information.

CARDINIA SHIRE MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT REVIEW

On a regular basis shires review their Municipal Strategic Statement (MMS) based on the changing needs of their communities.

Cardinia has recently reviewed theirs and released it for public comment.

The CMPA noted the need to include reference to triple bottom line policies, the need to keep the EES as a last resort, the need to recognise the small environmental footprints that many Work Authority sites leave, and the need to recognise the possible environmental benefits of situating Work Authorities close to the people they service.

The DPI forwarded the CMPA a copy of their submission which also stressed the inappropriateness of the overemphasised EES requirement, and secondly supported the reference to the EIIA Review for the Melbourne Supply Area.

INQUIRY INTO WORKPLACE EXPOSURE TO TOXIC DUST

The Senate Community Affairs References Committee recently commenced the above mentioned inquiry with a call for comments upon the Terms of Reference. As there were public hearings to be held to the Terms of Reference, only a brief submission was made by the CMPA essentially applauding the terms of reference and offered any assistance which the CMPA can provide.

As a result of this submission, the CMPA was requested to attend a public hearing on September 28. The association’s comments were well received. Hansard notes of all of the hearings are available from http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/toxic_dust/index.htm

JOBS GUIDE

After much disappointment and very limited results, this issue was passed
onto RIISC’s Victorian representative Mr Ray Hutt to pursue mid October.

The following email arrived in early November – “Take it as read that it will be in next year’s edition. I have very serious connections within DEST and it can be clearly demonstrated that Hobsons are in breach of their working agreement with DEST”.

INQUIRY INTO VET IN VICTORIA

The CMPA was notified of this inquiry through a member from the Saturday Age. The inquiry aimed to identify key areas that need to be better managed within the TAFE Vocational Educational and Training (VET).

Key points made by the CMPA included:

• Need for more training resources and control of trainers by the State
• Need for more Industry Liaison Agents in the short term
• What funding is required in a best case scenario
• That industry be more involved in the development of training resources then at present

ABORIGINAL HERITAGE BILL

This Bill is the result of the Brack’s government whole-of government Aboriginal Land and Resource Development Strategy that aims to ‘address the dispossession of Aboriginal land and culture’.

It attempts to combine the preexisting State and Federal legislation. This bill presents several proposals that will serious affect the way that all new quarries operate including the requirement for all larger planning applications to have ‘Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessments’ prior to submitting a planning application.

If you are aware of or had any issues with the management of aboriginal heritage, it would be greatly appreciated if you could contact the office. Site visits by the Development Manager will occur in the New Year.

WATER (RESOURCES MANAGEMENT) BILL

Last month, legislation was introduced in Parliament addressing in part the action plan Our Water Our Future.

This Water (Resources Management) Bill seeks to enable key components of the Government’s reform agenda.

The five main areas of reform are:

• The establishment and protection of an Environmental Water Reserve
• Improved long-term planning and assessment of all sources of water
• Unbundling water entitlements
• Upgrading or decommissioning rural water supply infrastructure or changing levels of service
• Establishing a public water register and appointment of a water register

Most of the Bill’s content will have little impact upon the extractive industries on a day to day basis and are more applicable to the irrigators. No submissions were called for this Bill.

AMBIENT AIR QUALITY NEPM

The EPA this week released an ‘Issues Scoping Paper’ to elicit the views of stakeholders on what issues should be considered in later stages of the review, and secondly a draft methodology for prioritising air toxins for consideration for inclusion in the Air Toxins NEPM. As submissions are due before Christmas, interested parties are asked to contact the CMPA as soon as possible.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login