FROM THE CMPA SECRETARIAT (Issue 66)
Challenges that lie ahead
JOHN MAWSON, Chairman of the CMPA reflects on 2012 and the challenges that lie ahead for Members next year.
THE CMPA, your association has again in 2012 worked hard to improve members’ skills and improve industry stakeholders’ (especially regulators) about the issues that challenge our industry.
I believe that many Local and State Government Departments are now hearing our message. Judging by the feedback we get from many departmental representatives they even understand our concerns! The problem is whether they act on these concerns and make changes in light of the CMPA submissions that our Executive and Management Committee work so hard to prepare.
The challenge facing us as an association and more broadly, our industry, is to have that part of our Ministers’ mind that he has free for us focused on our most significant concerns. More importantly we want him to give real credence to our advice on addressing these concerns.
It is with great dismay that I advise members of our continued inability to meet with the Minister, even now, more than two years into the Governments’ term. One wonders what condition the States’ infrastructure and building industry has to reach before our calls are returned!
In spite of the increasing regulatory burden and declining skill base across many Councils and State Government Departments the performance of the Victorian Extractive industries in the key areas of safety, environmental compliance and profitability has been highly commendable.
In 2010/2011 a total production of 52.2 million tonnes of extractive industry products worth a total amount of $760.2 million was produced in Victoria. The delivery of this material produced to customers generates approximately $312.4 million on top of quarry sales, thus making us over a billion dollar a year industry. Importantly, it is estimated that over 40% of the total production in Victoria is from CMPA members.
Our industry remains a key employer generating an estimated 3,000 direct jobs and supporting 4,000 others amongst our suppliers. I believe that we can be proud of our contributions.
In 2013 the CMPA will continue to work hard representing members’ interests across a broad range of areas including training, regulation and product development.
With the continued support of strong and energetic sub committees and executive I am confident that we can make a positive contribution to the welfare of our members and all Victorians.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login