BUSINESS UPDATE (Issue 24)

Moving Forward—Victoria’s Resource Industry

Supplied by Richard Aldous, Executive Director, Minerals & Petroleum Division, DPI

On 14 November the Government announced its $502 million Provincial Victoria Statement, Moving Forward. This major Government initiative is the biggest overhaul of regional policies since the Government’s election in 1999 and DPI Minerals & Petroleum have the responsibility to deliver the following new projects:

• Developing Gold Undercover is a $9 million project over three years that will deliver the new geoscience insights and techniques required to discover the potentially large undiscovered gold resources presently concealed under cover. Key outputs include a new predictive mineralisation model for the state, an exploration ‘toolkit’ that will help industry target prospective areas and improved on-line geoscience information delivery systems.
• Developing The Latrobe Valley’s Resources Future is a $1.5 million project over three years that will establish the key building blocks that will support new brown coal based developments in the Latrobe Valley. Key outputs include a strategic plan for the development of the Latrobe Valley Resources Vision, promotion of brown coal based opportunities to Australian and international companies encouraging investment in low emission plants and establishment of legislation and regulations for new Carbon Capture and Storage technologies.
• Technology Roadmap for Victoria’s Earth Resources is a $250,000 project that will develop a comprehensive technology roadmap to help Victoria’s earth resources industry identify future technology needs, make informed investment decisions and compete successfully for research and development funds. This project will study Victoria’s major commodities of gold, mineral sands, oil and gas, coal and construction materials. The Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, research providers including CSIRO, and industry, jointly fund this initiative.

These projects will address some of the key issues facing Victoria’s resource industry to ensure their successful outcome.

KEY EVENTS IN 2006

The CMPA has scheduled numerous activities for 2006 including workshops, forums, general meetings, and of course the Annual General Meeting & Dinner.

2006 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & DINNER

Date: Saturday 12 August
Region: Melbourne

As with previous years the CMPA is continually striving to improve on the Annual Dinner for which the 2006 event is scheduled for Melbourne on the 12 August.

We aim to provide both the Voting Members and Associate Members with the opportunity to network with their fellow extractive industry employees, whilst enjoying excellent food, wine and entertainment.

Further details will be forthcoming in the New Year.

WORKSHOPS

The CMPA Workshops are operator oriented with an a aim to better the skills and knowledge of our Member’s operators and operational management staff.

Workshops focus on issues such as the hazards and risks involved with various extractive industry operations. For example, the Workshops held in 2004 and 2005 which focused on the hazards and risks involved with Drilling and Blasting, Mobile Plant Operations, and Fixed Plant Operations.

There have been two Workshops scheduled for 2006 being in March and June.

FORUMS

The CMPA Forums are aimed at improving the operations of the business as a whole, and focus is mainly on the administrative managers in Member’s business such as transport managers, purchasing mangers, etc.

2005 Forums included the Transport Forum and Work Plan Forum, with a possible 2006 topic focusing on the review of the Extractive Industries Development Act.

There have been three forums scheduled throughout the year for 2006.

GENERAL MEETINGS

CMPA General Meetings are generally split into two sections being the General Meeting and a Seminar.

General Meetings are held with the specific intention of raising and discussing numerous concerns and issues that are central to the Association, particularly those that have an effect on CMPA Voting Members.

General Meetings also incorporate a seminar facilitated by an Associate Member. For example, the November 2004 Load & Haul Seminar run by William Adams, who then hosted the General Meeting.

There have been two General Meetings scheduled for 2006 being in March and November.

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