CMPA NEWS (Issue 58)

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

MAJOR CONCERNS IN EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES

Bruce McClure CMPA and Peter McCluskey from the VLPA met in late July with two Officers from the Office of Energy and Earth Resources Strategic Policy (OEERSP) of DPI. The point of the meeting was for the DPI staff to get an idea of the major problems causing concerns in the extractives industry.

They were working on a paper that would be going to the Minister on concerns from the Industry not just to do with regulations but on what the industry perceived as major hurdles facing the industry in the future (e.g. stone resource, costs, etc).

The general comment was made that many of the problems that our members expressed concerns about over 10 years ago when the CMPA was formed have not been addressed but are still with us.

Despite numerous inquiries, workshops and discussion papers, very little has actually changed. Governments of all persuasions acknowledge that there is too much red tape and too much regulation yet nothing has really occurred that has reduced the requirements in these areas.

There seems to be more and more impost on family businesses at a time when cost pressures are making entry into our industry very difficult.

Specific topics discussed included:

• The negative impact that native vegetation, cultural heritage management plans and community consultation are having on our members, particularly when they are trying to establish new or extend existing quarries is of major concern.
• The urgent need for the streamlining of the planning approvals process for both state and local government.
• Future stone stewardship. The extension of the Urban Growth Areas in Melbourne that has occurred without establishing or identifying the stone resources that will be required in the future.
• Improvements required with the VCAT process.

VICTORIAN PLANNING PROVISIONS

The state Minister of Planning, Matthew Guy has established an Advisory Committee to provide advice to the government on ways of improving the planning system in Victoria.

The Advisory Committee since its establishment has called for submissions from organisations wishing to comment about the Victorian Planning Provisions, planning schemes and the planning system generally.

The CMPA late in August 2011 sent into this committee a submission highlighting what members consider to be the main concerns about the planning system in Victoria. Not only has the CMPA highlighted problems but have suggested realistic solutions to these as well.

The points shown below are the most contentious issues for members:

• Lack of state stewardship of extractive resources
• Excessive financial burden resulting from the current native vegetation and cultural heritage management plans
• Need for streamlining of the planning approval process
• Improvements required to the VCAT process
• Buffers

The work of this Advisory Committee is vital for the future planning regime that will exist in Victoria and the CMPA will be closely watching what develops.

ANNUAL DINNER PHOTOS

Would you like a happy snap of you and your friends all dressed up for the Annual Dinner? Photos from the night are available to be downloaded free of charge from http//actionpix.com.au/CMPA2012/. High resolution, printable versions of the photos can also be emailed to you. Please contact the Secretariat with the photo reference number from the website to arrange this.

NEW OHS LAWS – VECCI BRIEFINGS

Businesses must be ready to meet new obligations and responsibilities from 1 January 2012 when Australia-wide harmonised Work Health and Safety Legislation commences, replacing existing OHS acts.

There is much to do before the new year arrives. To help Victorian businesses adapt to the upcoming OHS changes, VECCI and CCI Lawyers will be providing a series of briefings aimed at clearly explaining the new laws, including:

• An outline of duty of care and due diligence obligations
• The VECCI ten-point plan for transition to the new legislation
• Information on the consultation, cooperation and coordination requirements of a ‘person conducting a business’
• An overview of the new Work Health and Safety Legislation

VECCI briefings area a cost-effective way to help ensure your business is prepared, proactive and fighting fit.

• Dandenong on 3rd Oct.
• Geelong on 5th Oct.
• Warrnambool on 6th Oct.
• Ballarat on 10th Oct.
• Bendigo on 11th Oct.
• Wangaratta and Traralgon – 12th Oct.
• Mildura – 20th Oct.
• Nunawading – 21st Oct.
• Melbourne – 28th Oct.

VECCI members $50, non–members $75.

For more information or to register for your local briefing call (03) 8662 5333 or visit www.vecci.org.au

ASSOCIATE COMMITTEE

We have a new look Associate Committee for 2011/12, with Mark Thompson (Oli Vibrators) re-elected as the Associate Chairperson and Tej Panesar (TSP Group of Companies) elected as Associate Vice Chairperson.

There are also a few new faces added for the coming twelve months:

• Erik Birzulis (Landair Surveys),
• Darin Compt (Brightwater Manufacturing),
• Wayne Hanson (WAM Australia),
• Adrian Mason (ei engineering),
• Sharron O’Donoghue (Landmark Contracting),
• Chris Prowse (CK Prowse & Associates),
• Frank Santoro (Orica), and
• Craig Staggard (Terex Jaques).

THANK YOU TO YARRABEE

My name is Mark Guerra and I would like to publically acknowledge my thanks to Steve Adams and Chris Maskiell from Castlemaine Slate and Stone.

We purchased a home a year ago. The home is six years old, with approximately 50m2 of outdoor paving. Soon after moving in we noticed that some pavers were loose – either rocking underfoot when walked on or spurting out water from the paver perimeter after some rain.

Unfortunately this became more annoying by the day; hence we recently decided to do something about it.

I engaged an independent “expert” opinion who provided me a report to the state of the paving – the conclusion was not good. As the conclusion had implications for both the paver layer (Chris) and the paver supplier (Steve), I sought their attendance at a site meeting to discuss the independent findings.

Both men were expectedly guarded about the report content but genuine enough to attend. At the meeting we pulled up one paver together and quickly ascertained the root of my paving problem (which was different to the report conclusion) – effectively relieving both men of any responsibility.

Steve has been exceptionally helpful beyond this site meeting in assisting me with solving my problem. The points I wish to make are as follows:

• It was terrific to deal (in a time of angst) with genuine people
• It was terrific to deal with two men who stand by their product and service, and are amenable to discuss criticism of the same
• It was terrific to see how Steve supported his “subcontractors”
• It was terrific how Steve has extended help to me beyond the site meeting (at no cost to me)

My sincere appreciation to both men.

Yours faithfully, Mark Guerra.

CMPA MEMBERSHIP

Our sincere thanks to all Members who have renewed their membership for the 2011/12 financial year – without your support the CMPA could not continue its valuable work.

It would be appreciated if all outstanding renewals could be completed by the end of October.

FUTURE WORKSHOPS TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS?

Since its inception the CMPA has kept members abreast of changes in government regulations and also changes taking place within the extractives industry.

Through our Associates, members have also been able to regularly see what new equipment and business techniques are available to the industry. To keep members up to date with information that is vital for their business the CMPA has regularly run workshops that are designed to provide good up to date practical information that will aid their business.

The slope stability workshops conducted earlier in the year were an example of this.

To ensure the CMPA is providing information that members need, we intend to shortly send out a brief questionnaire which will simply be seeking suggestions on what areas or parts of your business that you would like the CMPA to provide information on over the next twelve months.

It is important the Secretariat is aware of what your needs are so that relevant and up to date information can be provided.

RECENT EVENTS

Bruce McClure met with John Mitas and other DPI staff to look at setting up a working group to discuss Work Plan improvements.

Bruce McClure and Garry Cranny met with Jane Sims from Box HillTAFE to discuss current and future training opportunities.

CMPA met with Graeme Newman (VicRoads) and Stacey Clark (BRIT) to discuss the proposed “Collect routine site samples” course.

Bruce McClure and Garry Cranny attended the CCAA & IQA Extractives Dinner.

CMPA attended an EPA and DSE Statutory Policy Review workshop Bruce McClure and Anthony Webster (photographer) visited several quarries in the north of Victoria to visit sites and to obtain on site photos.

CMPA met with WorkSafe Victoria regarding the national uniform work health and safety laws, specifically the Work health and safety management systems – mining regulations and code of practice.

CMPA attended second Work Plan Working Group Meeting at DPI.

CMPA attended a meeting with DPI regarding the Native Vegetation Framework.

CMPA attended a meeting with DSE regarding a review of the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

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