Victoria’s PBS Industry Guide & New PBS Level 3A Networks

 The Department of Transport is excited to share the launch of Victoria’s PBS Industry Guide – Operating a Performance-Based Standards vehicle in Victoria.

 The Industry Guide has been developed in collaboration with current PBS assessors and operators, in an effort to simplify all steps throughout the PBS process. From vehicle design and approval, to network access and renewals – The Industry Guide highlights the considerations that must be made when determining if PBS is right for your business.

Operating a Performance-Based Standards vehicle in Victoria can be found on the Department of Transport’s Heavy vehicles page.

The Department of Transport also launched 7 new PBS Level 3A Gazetted networks. These new Level 3A maps will provide greater flexibility to operators moving different commodities such as liquid and general freight.

The new networks are published under the PBS Level 3 tab on the VicRoads PBS and HPFV Combinations page.

A great day was had by all who attended the Water Management Workshop at Bendigo All Seasons Resort back on the 25th November 2021.
We started our day early with a site visit to Allstone Quarries, where Brad Carr and the team ran us through their Water Management systems followed by some great presentations by Valenza Engineering, All Stone Quarries, ERR, CMA & EPA.
The CMPA would also like to send a big thank you out to CDE Global & FUCHS Lubricants for sponsoring the event. It was a good day to catch up with fellow members, meet some new faces and enjoy some good food.
To stay up to date with the upcoming events visit our website https://lnkd.in/gw5g8Te

Businesses working with engineered stone will require a licence by 15 November 2022 under new regulations to help protect workers from exposure to deadly silica dust.

From May next year, the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Crystalline Silica) Regulations 2021 also introduce new duties for businesses across a range of industries that work with other materials containing silica – including quarrying, construction and tunnelling.

Click here to view the full article. 

This strategy supports WorkSafe’s commitment to creating positive, mentally healthy Victorian workplaces.

Mental Health Strategy 2021-2024

Click here to view the full article. 

After almost 8 months of no face-to-face training the CMPA have a planned a big day for Members and other interested parties in Bendigo. This will include;
 
8:00am—4:00pm: Water Management Workshop (includes site visit to Allstone Quarries , morning tea and lunch at All Seasons Resort Hotel, Bendigo).
The CMPA is holding this workshop to assist Members to manage water resources on quarry sites (sand, stone and gravel) in a safe and sustainable manner. To support members in meeting the requirements of the Victorian Water Act 1989, the Federal Water Act 2007, and the Victorian Environment Protection Act 2017.
 
4:30pm—8:00pm: Members General Meeting (includes dinner at All Seasons Resort, Bendigo —Attendees to purchase their own alcoholic drinks).
This is an opportunity to hear the latest industry happenings and to network with fellow members and suppliers.
 
Please RSVP by Wednesday 17th November.
 
If you plan to stay in Bendigo, please contact Bendigo All Seasons Resort Hotel on 03 5443 8166 and quote CMPA as rooms are filling fast!
 
We cannot wait to catch up with everyone again!

Click here to view invitation.

The National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (Tier 1) Authorisation Notice 2021 provides eligible Tier 1 Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles with immediate access to relevant PBS networks across Australia to operate on approved networks without the need of a permit as soon as a Vehicle Approval is issued, although this may be at a restricted mass.

Click here to view full article.

After record vaccination rates that will soon see Victoria become one of the most vaccinated places in the world, our state is set on a path back to normal living resembling our pre-COVID lives.

Thanks to the hard work of millions of Victorians who turned out to get vaccinated in recent months, the Victorian Government has today been able to outline what life will be like as we hit our 80 per cent and 90 per cent double dose targets.

Victoria will reach its 80 per cent double dose vaccination milestone almost a week ahead of schedule, on Friday 29 October. When we reach our 90 per cent double dose milestone – predicted to be as early as 24 November – a significant easing of all major restrictions will occur.

Click here to view full article.

A long-standing employee who was dismissed after using a mobile phone while operating a forklift will be reinstated after the Fair Work Commission found his dismissal to be ‘harsh and therefore unfair.’

Click here to view the full article.

Review of Extractive Industry Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Policy and Bonds in Victoria

The CMPA supports responsible, balanced legislation and community engagement that is in the best interests of the State and acknowledges Victoria’s Aboriginal communities and cultural heritage.  

The CMPA is concerned that the Victorian Government is taking an unnecessarily conservative approach to rehabilitation bonds for the extractive industry when there is no evidence of need. Hence CMPA is undertaking a project to review the Extractive Industry Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Policy and Bonds in Victoria.

Project objectives

The project objective is to produce a Report on the Review of Extractive Industry Rehabilitation; and Rehabilitation Policy and Bonds which qualitatively and quantitively assesses:

• Their impact on the immediate viability and longer-term sustainability of the extractive industry in Victoria; and
• The risk profile of the extractive industry and provide recommendations on how the Rehabilitation and Bonds policy can be amended to reflect the risk profile.

Target audience

Construction materials industry, governments (Ministers, Councilors, and public servants) and community.

Specific goals

1. Review briefing documentation and hold meetings with relevant people

2. Prepare a history of rehabilitation of quarries in Victoria using relevant material including that provided, that includes:

• An estimation of the number of rehabilitated extractive industry sites and mining sites in Victoria.
• Estimate the approximate number of unrehabilitated extractive industry sites and mining sites in Victoria.
• Summarise the history of risks associated with the extractive industry rehabilitation and compare with mines.
• Review rehabilitation bond policies for extractive industry in other jurisdictions in Australia and highlight best practice that can be adopted in Victoria.
• The end land use. This should consider what the landowner can seek or agree to have retained on their site (i.e. hardstands)
• Determine, where possible, the costs associated with rehabilitation undertaken by the Victorian Government over the last 25 years in the extractive industry and compare with the mining industry.

3. Explain the differences under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 between extractive industry and mining industry: including but not limited to:
4. Right of entry – i.e. In that the extractive industry, generally a commercial lease is entered into with the landowner.
5. Ownership of resources
6. Geological risk of fire

4. Review the rehabilitation bond calculator for:

• Excessive and unnecessary requirements based on the lower and different risk profile of the extractive industry.
• Ability to respond to site-specific end use, land owner requirements, and air-space.
• Consider if a centrally held management fee would work.

5. Provision of a legal opinion as to the exposure (contingent liability) to the State of Victoria (requirement for rehabilitation of extractive industry sites to be undertaken by Government).

EHS Support is uniquely qualified to complete this work assignment having already completed major studies and reviews of financial assurance (bonding) and reporting for the mining, energy, and other extractive industries. EHS Support has completed financial assurance estimates and studies in SA, NT, QLD and NSW and has developed guidance and calculators for the Queensland Government. EHS Support has accredited Auditors who regularly verify financial assurance estimates for landfills in Victoria. They have also completed numerous advocacy assignments for Industry including the Queensland Resources Council, APPEA and the Mining Club associated with, rehabilitation requirements, offsets, financial assurance, and taxation.

The Project is expected to be completed by 25 November 2021 with a presentation to Members at a General Meeting in Bendigo (COVID-19 restrictions permitting).

Dr Elizabeth Gibson will manage the project and any comments or if you would like to be involved in the CMPA Rehabilitation Project please contact elizabeth.gibson@cmpavic.asn.au. EHS Support will be seeking written responses and/or interviews with members who would like to contribute. Examples of questions to be considered are:

1. What do you see as the main issues associated with the rehabilitation regulation and bonding system in Victoria with respect to quarrying?
2. What specific aspects of the rehabilitation regulation and bonding system impact your business?
3. Have any of your operations undergone a bond review under the new system and if so, are you able to supply the details?
4. Are you able to supply any specific correspondence with the regulators including calculations and determination of bonds for past and current projects?
5. What specific aspects of the rehabilitation regulation and bonding system would you like to see changed and do you have ideas on how they should change?

The Acting Chief Health Officer has issued the new COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions, which came into effect at 11:59pm on 7 October 2021.

From 15 October 2021, to work onsite at a work premises, workers must be able to provide evidence to their employer that they have either:

• received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or
• have a booking to receive a first dose by 22 October 2021, or
• have a medical exemption from an authorised medical practitioner.

This means that from 23 October 2021, workers need to have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to attend work — unless they have a medical exemption.

From 26 November 2021, to attend work, workers will also be required to provide evidence to their employer that they have received a second dose – unless they have a medical exemption. The new Directions apply to employers of select workers, including contractors, volunteers and students on placement. A full list of workers can be found here.

The website includes Frequently Asked Question for workers and Frequently Asked Questions for business and industry. This webpage will be updated as further information becomes available.