FROM THE CMPA SECRETARIAT (Issue 54)
The Year in Reflection
CMPA Chairman, TIM BIRD, reflects on the past twelve months of the CMPA.
WELCOME to 2011 and thank-you for taking the time to read our Sand & Stone.
The beginning of a new year is an opportune time to revisit the challenges faced by the association and its members during the past twelve months.
January 2010 marked the commencement of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990. At the same time, the new modern Quarry Award 2010 together with the new National Employment Standard came into effect.
The renewal of Shotfirer’s Explosives Licenses was of a high priority, with a series of refresher training and assessments held at Box Hill Institute of TAFE in March, May and November 2010.
In March 2010, the CMPA held a Member’s Day in Bendigo. The day was sponsored by Astec Australia and involved a site visit to Allstone Quarries, a Guarding Workshop and a General Meeting of CMPA Members at the All Seasons Hotel. Members listened to presentations from Vic Roads, DPI, Associate Members Mead Partners and CMPA Development Officer Adrian Town.
The CMPA prepared a submission to DPI regarding the Proposal for Statutory Endorsement of Extractive Work Plans.
The Environment & Natural Resources Committee held an Inquiry into the Environmental Effects Statement process in Victoria. The CMPA put together a submission re-iterating the issues highlighted in An Unsustainable Future report from last year.
May 2010 was a busy month with the departure of Roger Buckley to the CCAA. The CMPA produced the 50th issue of Sand & Stone. Comments were made to DPI regarding the draft Extractive Industry Work Plan Guidelines.
The Resources Super Profits Tax became a big issue leading into the Federal Election. The CMPA held a historic truck rally on June 18th 2010 through the streets of Bendigo to protest against the quarries inclusion with the mining sector under this proposed tax.
An OH&S Workshop was held at William Adams, Laverton to make Health & Safety Representatives aware of their obligations onsite and to also identify common issues and risks faced by workers at quarries.
The Code of Practice for Small Quarries, published by the DPI came into effect in June 2010.
Both the associate and management committees accepted new participants who were endorsed at the 2010 CMPA AGM held at the RACV Club in Melbourne. This was followed by a great night at the Annual Dinner celebrating the events of the past year.
In October 2010, the CMPA welcomed Bruce McClure to the fold as the new CMPA General Manager.
A Blast Management Workshop was held at Tullamarine to look at the proposed changes to the Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2011.
The CMPA provided input to the VCEC inquiry into Victoria’s Regulatory Framework as well as a review of the Urban Growth Boundary in Victoria.
Overall in the last 12 months the CMPA has been yet again instrumental in guiding our members through the ever changing and challenging environment that we operate in; be it through training, communicating changes in regulation, conducting workshops to assist in setting standards and meeting regulation or offering advice and liaising with Members. The CMPA has been there assisting Members all the way as can be seen by the numerous submissions that have been made to government to put forward our Member’s views.
In the coming years there is a still lot to achieve; we have a vital role to play in the shaping of our industry into the future. We have a great team of people at the CMPA with an immense amount of knowledge on all aspects of our industry and it is up to us to make sure that the correct information and the message of our Members is getting through to the various levels of government.
SLOPE STABILITY
Following the recent tragic accident at a quarry south of Melbourne in November last year when it appears that a quarry face collapsed, it was decided that it would be appropriate early this year for the CMPA to run a Workshop on Slope Stability of quarry faces, sedimentation pond walls and material stockpiles within sites.
Both the Department of Primary Industry and WorkSafe are very supportive of this initiative which will be held on Thursday 17 February 2011. It is hoped that the workshop will be held at a location in the north east of the Melbourne metropolitan area but this will be confirmed shortly.
The workshop will comprise a formal presentation on stability issues followed by a visit to a local quarry to confirm a number of the points discussed at the workshop.
Date: Thursday 17th Feb. 2011
Location: TBA
Time: 10.30am – 2.30pm (includes lunch)
Cost: CMPA Members $40 CMPA Non-Members $60
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