Member visits to Gippsland Region
GAVIN MOREIRA , Administration Offi cer of CMPA reports on a recent trip to visit members in the Gippsland Region.
ADRIAN Town (Development Manager) and Gavin Moreira (Administration Officer) visited members and prospective members, in the Gippsland Region of Victoria on the 24th – 26th September 2013.
This was the first of a number of field trips planned to cover as many districts as possible during the course of the financial year.
The field trips are designed to allow members the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns that they may have with current operations, development or planning and what options or assistance the CMPA can provide. Issues such as the length of time and cost for a WA approval or the magnitude of rehabilitation bonds. It’s your views and comments that provide us with the collective support to voice member concerns to government.
We are able to bring members up to date on what the Association is currently working on, such as issues affecting our industry, what we are doing about them, submissions to Government, and Industry meetings with government and other bodies.
The latest range of CMPA publications are displayed including training manuals, developed by the CMPA in conjunction with members including, Work Safely Reference Manual, Conduct Crushing, Conduct Screening and Conduct Screening and Crushing, (these manuals are also used by industry Training providers), check lists for plant and machines and other publications such as shotfirer’s book, issue resolution pads, site managers’ report book etc.
We also use this visits to go through the Members Survey and to obtain feedback from members on Sand & Stone, CMPA Website, Associates Reference Manual and the Annual Dinner.
If the opportunity arises we also call on potential members to discuss the advantages of becoming a member of the CMPA. The following operations were called on as well as three potential members along the way:
JH CUTHBERTSON
A founding member of the CMPA, located in Drouin and owned by Peter Cuthbertson. Just an hour or so from Melbourne producing lower grade materials for secondary roads, housing developments and other civil constructions. “Quarrying represents about 15% of the business and it was really developed for the cows on the dairy farms,” Peter explained.
LV BLUE METAL
A founding member of the CMPA located in Yallourn North and managed by Ross Kennedy. Th e quarry produces a basalt material for not only the Gippsland area but throughout Victoria. An older but expanding operation currently in the process of upgrading plant and equipment.
K&RJ MATTHEWS QUARRIES
Is a founding member of the CMPA located in the Traralgon area. Owned by Rob Matt hews, it’s an expanding and innovative operation with a new fully automated blending plant about to start operations. It also produces basalt, sand and gravels to the market.
LATROBE VALLEY SANDS
A member of the CMPA since 2008, located in Traralgon and managed by Chris Blackwood. The business employees four very experienced staff and produces high quality washed course sand for not only the area but around Victoria.
The sand is high in demand in the Construction industry through the concrete plants and also roof-tile plants. The coarseness of the sand adds great strength in their manufacturing process which helps eliminate some aggregates.
Given our close proximity to the freeway moving sand into the metro- area of Melbourne is very cost effective
RICHARDS QUARRIES
Is a founding member of the CMPA, owned by Kay and Stephen Richards. Located out at Swift s Creek with current operations focused at Benambra. A small quarry site only 9 acres in size producing the very abrasive Ignimbrite decorative stone.
PROSPER VALLEY ENTERPRISES
A member of the CMPA since 2004, located in Boolarra. Owner David O’Brien purchased the farming property in 1976. It was one of 36 farms in he area at the time with only 1 remaining at present. The very small gravel pit employs two people, has three truck and trailer combinations and an excavator. It produces road sub base, sands and gravels.
SOUTH GIPPSLAND QUARRIES
Has been a member of the CMPA since 2003, located in Nerrena near Leongatha owned by the Knox family. Th e current quarry site has been operational since 1936 producing basalt, but much of the quarrying production is geared towards the civil side of the business. Rob Knox, Managing Director stated “it’s a handy back-up to our civil construction business, we are set up with a mobile crushing plant to produce road base and pug materials.
GOLDSMITH QUARRIES
A founding member of the CMPA, owned by Cameron Goldsmith.
Quarry located in Fish Creek. A small quarry employing 3 staff with the main product being Sedimentary Stone (White). They currently have a Terex Finlay mobile crusher with a Fintec Screen, the majority of work is for Civil Construction. Cameron is looking to get more involved with the quarry industry and the CMPA to help expand the business further.
EVANS QUARRIES
The picturesque quarry located on Phillip Island was the last stop on the three day trip. Kevin & Jarrod Donohue showed us around the basalt quarry as well as the new crusher and screen. “It’s an expanding quarry with movements into recycling concrete for the area happening shortly,” Kevin said. Currently six staff work at the site which also produces sand and gravel. They are a founding member of the CMPA.
The Secretariat would like to thank all the members for giving us their time and for showing us around their sites.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login