CMPA NEWS (Issue 55)

CMPA Secretariat provides an update of the latest news and happenings.

WORKSAFE EARTH RESOURCES TRIPARTITE SAFETY FORUM

The CMPA attended the quarterly WorkSafe Earth Resources Tripartite Safety Forum on 16 February 2011. A number of items were discussed and these included the number of inspections completed by WorkSafe Inspectors over the last seven months, the areas attracting the majority of the Improvement Notices issued over the last seven months, the ongoing issue of ensuring that plant and equipment imported into Australia meets Australian regulations and the issue of fatigue specifically in the mining sector.

John Mitas General Manager Minerals and Energy, Earth Resources Regulation Branch Department of Primary Industry commented briefly on the current potential slip affected the Open Cut Coal mine, the Princes Freeway and a number of residential properties at Hazelwood. John stated that the area where some movement has been noticed is being monitored very frequently to detect movement.

FUTURE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN CENTRAL VICTORIA

CMPA Members met recently with two Officers from the Economic Development Unit, City of Greater Bendigo to discuss the future skills requirements and training needs of extractives industries within Central Victoria.

For many years’ people who want to enter the extractives, manufacturing or mining industries have needed to go to Melbourne to undertake the majority of their studies for the Industries. The City of Greater Bendigo, local manufacturing industries and regional education providers such as the Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE, have been discussing possible opportunities available and ways of introducing or in some instances upgrading appropriate courses for the extractives, manufacturing and mining industries in Central Victoria.

THE EPA COMMUNITY FORUM

On 10 February 2011 the second Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Environment Victoria (EV) community forum was held in Melbourne. EV is an active partner in these community forums.

The EPA Chief Executive Officer John Merritt reported to the forum that “the EPA as a modern regulator has set itself a long term project to listen to the community through regular forums and report back on our performance. The EPA has developed a Scorecard to help us focus our decision-making priorities for better community and environmental outcomes”.

The CEO further stated at the forum that: “in the mid 1980s, the world had begun to use its material resources at a rate that exceeded the environment’s capacity to replenish those resources. We need to think smarter about how we recover these lost resources currently going to landfill. EPA and Environment Victoria wanted find out how the community saw Victoria’s move towards more sustainable consumption practices. In partnership with Environment Victoria, we can lead the conversation about managing the competing demands of urban growth and population intensification, and the demand on our natural resources and environment”.

From the Community Forum the following topics have emerged.

• Resource Efficiency
• Landfills
• Getting to Zero Waste

The next community forum is on Thursday 5 May 2011 at the Jasper Hotel, 489 Elizabeth Street (corner Elizabeth and Therry Street) Melbourne and it is recommended that any member who has strong views on any of the subjects mentioned above should attend to ensure his/her voice is heard.

VICTORIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ALLIANCE

The CMPA was represented at the recent meeting conducted by the Victorian Civil Construction Industry Alliance (VCCIA) in February 2011. At the meeting three guest speakers were invited to provide information to the Alliance Members.

The Hon Richard Dalla-Riva MLC Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade addressed the meeting on matters pertaining to his portfolio that are relevant to Alliance Members. The Minister advised as follows:

• He is interested in establishing a good framework under which the civil construction industry can operate.
• The Premier will be leading a business roundtable.
• He is investigating where the industry can be sensibly deregulated to drive efficiencies and economic development.
• The Government will address the needs of smaller contractors in respect to any future procurement policies.
• The availability of skilled workers is a critical issue that needs to be addressed.
• The Commonwealth will be held accountable for industry support for Victoria and its employers.

The Minister was asked a number of questions; his responses clearly indicate the new State Governments attitude to key issues affecting CMPA Members.

• The Government is examining how to minimize the potential flow-on effects from the desalination plant EBA.
• The Government is investigating how it can free up land for future industry and perhaps even establishing ‘centres of excellence’.
• The Government accepts the need to undertake strategic planning in relation to future skills for the industry.
• The Government acknowledges that there needs to be an increased effort in relation to road asset renewal and refurbishment.

Justice Iain Ross, President of VCAT, provided an overview of the outcomes of the recent review of VCAT. The new vision for VCAT is “an innovative, flexible and accountable organisation which is accessible and delivers a fair and efficient dispute resolution service”.

The final guest speaker Brian Negus, General Manager, Public Policy, RACV provided information on the RACV and its Roads and Transport Policy.

HARCOURT GRANITE QUARRY

Members of the CMPA and Officers from Parks Victoria and DPI met on 8 February 2011 at the Harcourt Granite quarry on Mount Alexander to discuss possible options regarding its future.

This quarry which produced mainly dimensional stone has not been in actual operation for a number of years. The CMPA was notified by DPI that the Work Authority for this existing and established Granite Quarry had lapsed.

DPI was interested in finding out if any CMPA Member was interested in resuming operations at the site before it was permanently closed and rehabilitated.

There is considerable cut dimensional stone of various sizes and condition lying on the site that could easily be removed for a number of uses.

One CMPA Member expressed some interest and was going to investigate the possible financial viability of reopening and removing material from the site. A decision will be made by the end of March early April 2011 on the quarry’s future.

WHY ARE LARGE, OLD TREES IMPORTANT?

How often have you seen a lone, large old gum tree standing in the middle of the paddock and thought that it is just getting in the way? Think of it from a bird’s point of view though – to them it is a stepping stone between patches of vegetation in the same way we would use stepping stones across a creek.

In an agricultural setting they also provide habitat for insect eating birds and bats. Bats eat invertebrates, including spiders, mosquitoes, grasshoppers and crickets. Some have been recorded as eating 600 mosquitoes an hour and so provide a valuable pest control service.

If a paddock tree is reasonably close to a patch of vegetation, e.g. a roadside then they can be used by gliders and possums as nesting sites. Gliders can glide up to 70m between trees.

These trees also contain invaluable tree hollows for birds and mammals, many of them threatened in Victoria. In fact 76 species of bird and animal rely on tree hollows in Victoria and 18 of these are threatened or endangered. They are also valuable habitat if fallen as well, providing feeding areas, protection from predators and cavities for roosting.

This is why DPI requires that any large trees being removed as part of a proposal are left on the ground in a suitable place.

CRUSHING AND SCREENING OPERATIONS

This two day course covers the crushing and screening operations on a work site. It includes the planning and preparation for operations as well as the operation and post operational procedures of fixed and crushing plant.

It also covers the skills and knowledge required to operate the crushing and screening plant.

Why employees should attend?

• Core unit for further training and provides basic knowledge of operating crushing and screening plant
• Ability to apply operational safety requirements
• Access, interpret and apply technical information
• Apply plant operating procedures

This is an elective unit in the Certificate II in Extractive Industries Operations Training Package RIIPRO301A.

It requires the attendance of both day’s training and the successful completion of an assessment task.

Date: Friday 20th May and Friday 3rd June 2011
Time: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Location: Box Hill Institute of TAFE Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill

RECENT EVENTS

Tim Bird and Bruce McClure met with two Officers from the Economic Development Unit, City of Greater Bendigo to discuss the future skills requirements and training needs of the extractive industries within Central Victoria.

Tim Bird and Bruce McClure met with Members of the CMPA and Officers from Parks Victoria and DPI at the Harcourt Granite quarry on Mount Alexander to discuss possible options regarding its future. One Member expressed some interest and a decision will be made by the end of March 2011 onthe quarry’s future.

Bruce McClure met with two senior personnel from the CCAA to discuss a number of issues and government department discussion papers that impact on both organizations.

Basil Natoli and Bruce McClure attended a meeting at the DPI on the MRSDA. This was the first quarterly meeting set up to discuss the second phase of the MRSDA review.

Bruce McClure attended the quarterly WorkSafe Earth Resources Tripartite Safety Forum.

Bruce McClure attended the quarterly meeting of the Victorian Civil Construction Industry Alliance in Melbourne.

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