FROM THE CMPA SECRETARIAT (Issue 52)

A New Way Forward

CMPA’s new Associate Chairperson, MARK THOMPSON touches on the role of the associate.

AS the incoming Associate Chairperson it’s certainly going to be a big pair of shoes to fill from our past Chairperson of five years and now Deputy Chairperson, David Batson.

I would like to personally thank David for his support and commitment to the CMPAduring his time as Chairman; I look forward to working with him and the associate committee as we move forward.

I am the General Manager of Oli Vibrators Pty Ltd (Aust) part of the global Italian WAM Group of companies that specialise in equipment for bulk material handling.

Oli Australia was established in 2004 and supplies a range of standard and heavy duty electric vibrators to the mining, extractive and associated industries. Oli Vibrators has become synonymous throughout the Australasian Extractive Industry for our price, reliability and overall service.

Whilst my training as an aircraft fitter and later with such companies as the Aeronautical Research Laboratories, Drager Australia Cadbury Schweppes, WAM Australia and eleven years in marketing, has given me good grounding to manage a business.

I have also been a member of many industry associations, but never part of an association that has a passion to make sure its members are heard and represented like the CMPA.

As Chairperson of the Associate Committee I look forward to working together with our dedicated committee members to assist all of our associates gain the very best from the CMPA and to ensure that the members have quality products and services associated with the extractive industries throughout Victoria.

I think it is important that our members and associates understand the pivotal role of the associate and how we fit within any association, not just the CMPA.

It’s equally important to recognise the contribution of the committees and the resources available to all members. Sponsoring workshops, annual dinners, placing advertorials, preparing interviews and profiles together with advertisements in Sand & Stone and the CMPA Associates Reference Manual are all ways to strengthen awareness and relationships with our customers.

Being proactive in the market place and within the association increases our ability to ultimately sell our products. I encourage all our associates to consider advertising in these popular magazines and reference manuals which will provide you with exposure to not only your fellow members but the wider industry as well.

I look forward to working closely with the secretariat to assist our associates in gaining the best out of their membership and the opportunity to contribute to the enhancement of the CMPA.

FUTURE DIRECTION OF INDUSTRY

Regulatory burdens are killing our industry by restricting entry and sterilising future resources.

It’s time questions were asked.

Has there been a reduction in time for planning applications and Work Authorities to be approved? A reduction in the red tape burden that buries our sector? Is the financial security of our businesses stronger as a result of rehabilitation bonds?

Has Government “risk” associated with failed extractive operations escalated at the same rate as our bond levels? Do higher bonds actually remove the risk? Is the State being provided with an acceptable level of re-investment into our sector?

The reality is that if the answer is no to these questions, then our state construction material resources need a far greater commitment to be protected by Government. While the industry willingly responds to ever-increasing demand to satisfy urban and regional development fostered by Government, conversely, either for misguided or more ominous reasons, Government blocks access to new operations.

This sterilisation of our resources will result in three outcomes; firstly, there will be business failures as a result of the above policies, secondly industry will have to significantly raise their prices to recover regulatory costs and thirdly the community will witness industries gradual decline in health and competition as product sources dry up.

Either way, it is the opinion of the association that this must not be allowed to happen.

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