Dear Stakeholders,

In 2019, the Austroads Board agreed to produce a suite of harmonised technical specifications for use by the Australian and New Zealand Road and Transport agencies. Key benefits of this reform include:
• Reduced costs and improved productivity for companies delivering transport infrastructure by the adoption of standardised construction techniques and associated management processes
• Increased ability for road and transport agencies to ensure that their technical specifications reflect industry best practice
• Reduced burden on each road and transport agency to maintain their own unique specifications

I have been representing the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) on the Austroads Technical Advisory Group and have been working closely with the other Australian and New Zealand Road and Transport agencies on the development and implementation of this key initiative.

DTP is committed and ready to commence the adoption and implementation of the Austroads Technical Specifications within Victoria. This process will commence in 2023 and it is expected that this will take several years to complete.

As important contributors and key stakeholders to the development and maintenance of Victoria’s transport infrastructure, I would like to ensure that you are kept abreast on the progress of this project. I appreciate your anticipated involvement in this implementation process.

To ensure that you don’t miss any crucial project information, I encourage you to subscribe by visiting the ATS Implementation Newsletter
If you have any specific enquiries or require further assistance with the ATS Implementation, please contact our ATS team at StandardsManagementRD@roads.vic.gov.au.

Thank you for your attention and I look forward to your continued engagement with our ATS
Implementation Newsletter.

Yours sincerely,

David Barton

Chief Engineer – Roads

Department of Transport and Planning

CMPA and Box Hill Institute would like to extend an invitation to all Members and interested industry parties to attend the following accredited training course for those working in operational roles.

Training Course – RIIMEX303 Conduct local geotechnical risk control in surface operations  (Limited to 10 places)

Date: Thursday 25th and Friday 26th  May 2023

Time: 8.30am – 4.00pm

Trainer: Box Hill Institute (Noel Pickering)

Location: DE Quarry  Solutions,  Skipton Quarry

Cost: $458 per person

This rate will require the completion of an enrolment pack:

• 2023 Enrolment form
• LLN Diagnostic test
• Pre Training Review

The training covers:

1. Planning and preparing for assessment of ground conditions
2. Inspect, assess and implement ground condition controls
3. Record and report ground conditions, and conduct housekeeping activities

Click Here for flyer

Any further enquiries contact Diane Wilson, 0434 666 805 or dianewilson@boxhill.edu.au

Mactown Consulting has just released free OHS tools for quarry operators in Victoria, as part of a project sponsored by WorkSafe Victoria. To access, head to https://mactownconsulting.com/resources/ or email us on info@mactownconsulting.com

Highlighting the importance of safety around EWP. Some of you may be aware of the incident involving a boom lift earlier this year which tragically took the life of a 31 year old man on a construction site in Truganina, Melbourne. 

WorkSafe Victoria investigated the incident and have subsequently taken action to update and refresh their website with further guidance and practical advice around elevated work platforms. 

We encourage you to visit their website, refresh your own learning and pass on to your staff and team.

CCF Victoria, through their nationally accredited Registered Training Organisation Civil Train, currently delivers RIIHAN301E Operate elevating work platform (including scissor lift) as an onsite course. You can contact their training team on 03 9588 7600 for more information.

We never want to see an accident like this occur again in our industry so please, continue to upskill and train your team so we are all working together equipped with the latest standards and knowledge.

The CMPA is holding this vital 1 hour webinar to inform Members on how to best stay ahead of the game under the current economic conditions.

This webinar is for owners, managers, supervisors and accounts staff.

Presentations

Cost of living and rising inflation impacts— a macroeconomic update – NAB, Alan Oster, Chief Economist

Pricing Strategies, debtors and cashflow? – Mead Partners, John Pititto, Partner

Equipment purchasing and obtaining finance? – Finlease, Miles Beamish, Senior Partner

Date: Tuesday 4th April, 2023

Time: 10.00 – 11.00am

Via MS Teams

Click her for registration form

Safety Management Systems—Anita Macartney, Mactown Consulting

This session will provide participants with the safety tools to meet their legal occupational health and safety (OHS) obligations and improve how they document systems of work.

RCSD Management—David McKelvie, SafeMix

This CMPA Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust (RCSD) Management Guideline aims to support members in meeting the requirements of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 2004, the OHS Regulations 2017 and specifically the OHS Amendment (Crystalline Silica) Regulations 2021.

The one-day workshop is an interactive process which encourages the active involvement of the participants rather than a lecture session. And is intended for quarry managers, supervisors and HSE officers.

Date: – Thursday 30th March 2023

Time: – 8.30am – 4.00pm

Location: – Mantra, 250 Cooper Street, Epping

Click Here for Registration Form

From 1 February 2023, employees of non-small business employers (employers with 15 or more employees) can access 10 days of paid family domestic violence leave. This includes part-time and casual employees.

The information on this page has now been updated to reflect this new leave entitlement.

The National Heavy Vehicle Concrete Agitator Work and Rest Hours Exemption Notice has been amended to provide improved guidance on when agitator drivers operating under standard hours or Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) hours can take ‘short work breaks’ during their shifts.

First published on 1 January 2017, the notice provides alternatives for taking short rest breaks, allowing drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles carrying pre-mixed concrete to take regular short work breaks when they can, rather than requiring them to have a break at specific times throughout the day. Drivers can record a short work break while still in the driver’s seat with the engine running, if they’re not undertaking any work-related activities.

The amended notice, which takes effect on 1 February, incorporates the following changes:

1. Inclusion of an updated Table 1 for alternative rest and work times for drivers operating under standard hours.
   b. Inclusion of a new Table 2 for alternative rest and work times for drivers operating under BFM hours.
   c. Additional notes for drivers operating under the notice, clarifying when work time includes short work break time.

For more information about the notice, see Short work breaks for agitator drivers.

Previously she was the Minister for Energy and Resources in 2014 and approved the introduction of risk based work plans.

“Lily D’Ambrosio will drive the Labor Government’s work to deliver cheaper, cleaner power with government-owned energy as Minister for the State Electricity Commission – as well as Minister for Climate Action and Minister for Energy and Resources.

She will lead this transition from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action – with Resources and Agriculture to move into this Department to support the Labor Government to meet and beat our ambitious climate targets.”

There have been many changes to the Cabinet and Departments please see link for further information.

The CMPA released a 30 second advertorial on Quarries Building Communities – rehabilitation focused. 

The intention is to raise awareness in the community of the vital nature of quarries in Victoria.  The ad will be aired on Channel 10, 10 bold and 10 peach.

View the ad