C.K. Prowse & Associates Pty. Ltd.

CHRIS PROWSE, Managing Director of C.K. Prowse & Associates Pty Ltd, reports on the development of the business.

C.K. Prowse & Associates was ‘born’ in 1989 following from my experiences in the quarrying and minerals industries in most Australian states to that time. With the exposure to new technologies and methodologies in exploration and development, we fostered a strong capacity in resource assessment and statutory approvals including cost efficient drilling techniques, digital design, GIS and project management which are carried on today.

Coming from a family that has roots in mining from Cornwall in the UK to Bendigo and Scarsdale in Victoria (both great grandfathers owned goldmines) it was probably inevitable that in 1981 I would gain a Degree in Applied Geology.

Having worked part time in my final year for an exploration company, my first full time employment in 1982 started as the Development Geologist for Pioneer Concrete in eastern Victoria based in the Latrobe Valley. This was invaluable experience for the extractive industry covering hard rock and sand prospects and operational quarries while also managing their concrete plants.

With the fluctuation of fortunes in the building and construction and mining industries, several different positions in consulting and mining groups followed. Following the stock market crash, other opportunities arose with contract work with the then Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV) and headed me in the direction that culminated in establishing a consulting practice.

The consultancy operates from Melbourne and Adelaide offices where all facets of exploration programmes, assessment, operational and planning issues particularly related to construction materials are completed. Main locations worked in for the group are Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. This work has covered the management and interpretation of investigations as well as assessments for a range of construction material projects including sand, hard rock and dimension stone.

An early contract with the GSV involved estimating and analysing the sand resources and production for the entire Melbourne supply area. A few years later we won the tender and conducted the second phase of drilling for a regional construction sand exploration programme in the Trafalgar area. This was at a time when the Sand Producers Association included a large representation of small operators including Aidan J Graham Pty Ltd who remains a client to this day.

In the mid 2000’s, at a time when enormous amounts were being expended by the majors on Environmental Effects Statement’s, we successfully obtained approval for a work plan variation at a hard rock quarry at Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula. This project involved resource investigations, an environmental and technical specialist team where we achieved a cost effective result avoiding unnecessary expense, including VCAT, which many had assumed.

While often not the most enjoyable of experiences, being called as an expert witness for legal and planning panel hearings does form a part of my expertise, the most recent example involving the negotiated settlement for a compensation claim at Axedale.

Last year the company guided Newcomb Sand & Soil (NSS) in obtaining variations for two of their sites west of Geelong. This job highlighted the increasing complications of the approvals process and associated costs being forced on producers. We liaised with Chris Dunoon, Operations Manager for NSS, through the technical and operational aspects in a difficult environment with the statutory authorities which included successfully managing the preparation of appropriate Cultural Heritage Management Plans.

It is interesting to also have provided services for regional Councils, normally one of the authorities we must oft en deal with from the other side. We have completed audit assessment and work plan variations for central and northern Shire council quarries.

Probably the most interesting and challenging project in S.A. was the management of the Golden Grove Extractive Industries Zone Management Plan review for the South Australian Industry and State and Local Government working group. The zone is an area of 3.5km2 that contains large reserves of construction sand and clay for brick manufacture that is the central source for the Adelaide market.

Not only the completion of technical issues, but the balancing act of investing all groups’ interests into the outcome was often a challenge but a rewarding experience nonetheless.

I am an active member of the Institute of Quarrying Australia, sitting on the Victorian Branch committee for over 17 years. My involvement with the CMPA is through the Associates Committee which I have been a part of since inception (actually Andrew Burdett and I collated and administered the logo competition for the CMPA!). The people and family business approach it fosters has been a satisfying experience for me and enabled me to meet and assist a number of members in their operations.

I recently had the opportunity of speaking at the CMIC 12 conference in September this year, providing industry perspective and views of the unacceptably complex situation of “requirements” in the regulation of extractive industry. Hopefully this will go some way to further raising awareness in government and the community of the importance of quarrying and to assist, not impede its operation and growth.

Last June I went to the UK, part of which involved visiting Geevor in Cornwall and verifying my ancestry first hand. This included tours of the China clay and aggregate operations near St Austell (Cornwall) and sand/gravel extraction around Surrey which are extensive, very old and at the mercy of County Council jurisdictions for obtaining quarrying approvals. Believe it or not, this brief insight showed that even in the UK they face the same hurdles as extractive industry here. We are not alone!

©2012 C.K. Prowse & Associates Pty Ltd

Chris Prowse is the Principal Consultant for C.K. Prowse & Associates Pty. Ltd. The group conducts geological investigations, resource assessment, development design and approvals project management for the extractive industries.
Telephone (03) 9429 2433 / (08) 8238 3431

60 SECONDS WITH AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER…

What is your name?
Scarlett Blewett

Who do you work for?
C.K. Prowse & Associates Pty. Ltd.

How many years have you worked for this business?
2 ½ years

How many years have you been involved in the Industry?
2 ½ years

What is your role at the company?
Geologist & Database Administrator

What does your job involve?
Geological investigations, manage client databases, pit design and GIS plan preparation, assist compilation of statutory development plans reports.

What is the best part of your job?
Applying what is gained during site visits to actual designs and plans for the client; Developing my skills & knowledge in Surpac & Mapinfo.

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