VLPA Update (Issue 65)

PETER MCCLUSKEY provides an update on the Victorian Limestone Producers Association.

THE VLPA held its AGM & annual conference in Springvale on the 18th of October 2012. The Chairman Kevin Matthews spoke about projects undertaken during the foregoing year and said it was pleasing to see a good attendance of members from various regions given how dispersed the membership base is, stretching from East Gippsland to South West Victoria and into South Australia.

Committee elected for the following year is:

Chairman: Kevin Matthews (Lakeside Lime P/L)
Treasurer: Trevor Tovey (Sibelco Aust. Ltd)
Secretary: Tim Gibson (Darriman Lime P/L)
Technical Member: Noel Letcher (Sibelco Aust. Ltd)
Business Manager: Peter McCluskey
Committee Members: Gary Bascomb (IC&L P/L), Tom McCann (Geelong Lime), Lindsay Parker (Sibelco Aust. Ltd) and Bruce Couch (Lone Pine Lime)

Reports were received including the Business Manager’s in which he outlined promotional activities undertaken such as involvement in soil health days, submissions, regulatory matters, representations and administrative matters. Of particular note is the recent coming together of industry interests concerned with the high cost and hurdles in gaining access to extractive resources. Both VLPA and CMPA are involved in efforts to facilitate better access to resources.

Mike Cummins, National Gypsum Miners Association secretary attended and reported that the market for gypsum was looking up with increased enquiries and back loading opportunities during the grain harvesting season apparent. Also the absence of drought and flood has meant more movement of product around the year. Based on this he felt the market outlook for agricultural lime should be optimistic.

DPI’s Alison Rault reported on the proposed extractive industry regulatory changes.

Jeff Lawes, Project Facilitator from WestVic Dairy spoke on the success of the ‘reducing soil acidification through nutrient management’ project he was running with dairy farmers in SW Victoria. He said more than one hundred and sixty dairy farmers had completed the Caring for our Country funded project and most now had a much better appreciation of which paddocks or parts of their farm could show good responses to lime if soil pH was low and aluminium levels elevated. The project was now continuing with new farmer groups in the Colac and Camperdown areas.

Thanks and best wishes were conveyed to Trevor Tovey who is planning to retire soon. It was noted that Trevor was the driving force in establishing the VLPA and has continued to be a strong contributor to the Association’s right through.

Further information is available from Peter McCluskey by phoning 0408 496 588.

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