Victorian Lime Producers Association
TREVOR TOVEY, Secretary / Business Manager for the Victorian Lime Producers Association provides an update on the recent AGM and Conference.
THE VLPA recently held their Annual General Meeting and Conference at the Sporting Legends Club at Sale on the 3 October, 2014.
The Office Bearers for the year 2014/15 are:
Graeme O’Connor (Calcimo Lime) Chairman, Trevor Tovey Secretary/Business Manager and four committee members, Tom McCann (Geelong Lime), Mark Malone (Batesford Quarry), Gary Bascomb (Independent Cement & Lime), Lindsay Parker (Sibelco Australia).
The highlights of the meeting were presentations by Roger Lurz from the RAAF Defence Weather Office at Sale. Roger informed the meeting of further dry conditions in Western Victoria . Most of the balance of Victoria are to see dryer than average conditions up to May 2015 (definitely not
wet), with Gippsland to have average weather conditions. The El Nino effect is to be steady as she goes during the year.
Tim McAuliffe; from the Victorian Department of Business and Innovation, Gippsland Region. This government department has five regional officers for Victoria who will visit Victorian manufacturers and businesses to discuss, advise and offer funding for projects, particularly where increased employment is involved. The fund has $500 million for this year and will receive another $500 million after the Victorian State Election. The department also has a “Red Tape Commissioner” who can be contacted by any business in Victoria who may have an “issue” and a response is to be made within 3 to 4 days.
Lisa Miller, from Southern Farming Systems is setting up a five year soil acidity research program. It entails over 100 soil tests (on farm) from properties throughout Western Victoria, at three different depths, with agricultural limestone and fertiliser applied at different rates, and then monitor the results. Over time this should give limestone manufacturing a boost in Victoria.
The Earth Resources Unit, Victorian WorkCover Authority gave a presentation to our AGM / Conference. The Earth Resources Unit (ERU) was established in January 2008 following a transfer of management of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Dangerous Goods legislation to
the Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA).
Previous regulation responsibility belonged to the Department of State Development and Business Innovation (DSDBI), formally known as the Department of Primary Industries. As of June 2014, the ERU consists of Melbourne Manager Robert Kelly, two senior engineers and six technical Inspectors, based throughout Victoria. Robert Kelly, Tony Ferrazzo and Kevin Hayes from Victorian WorkCover Authority, presented a lively presentation with regards to going forward with the Authority.
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