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Industry News
Engineer feedback sought for registration scheme
ENGINEERS ARE BEING CALLED
upon to give feedback on the Victorian Professional Engineers Registration Scheme to help its implementation.
The scheme will commence on 1 July, 2021 and aims to ensure services are provided by professional engineers who have a minimum level of qualification, experience and professional development.
The Victorian Government is seeking feedback on a code of conduct that sets out a range of obligations for registered professional engineers to act fairly, honestly, and in the best interests of their clients.
In addition, feedback is being sought
FENNER DUNLOP HAS PARTNERED
with Siempelkamp for a $23.5 million plant expansion at its manufacturing facility in Kwinana, Western Australia.
In 2013 an additional $20 million was invested to install a second press line at the company’s manufacturing facility to double the plant’s production capacity and increase the Kwinana workforce by 30 per cent.
The third press line will increase the plant’s capacity by a further 50 per cent, and additional investment will support the efficient manufacture of fabric and steel cord conveyor belts for Western Australian customers.
Fenner Dunlop Chief Operating Officer Steve Abbott says while other companies are contracting and moving their manufacturing operations offshore, Fenner Dunlop continues to support the local economy and is proud to be the largest conveyor belt supplier in Australia and the only company to manufacture the complete range of conveyor belts for all mining applications locally.
on proposed regulations that set the schedule for phasing in registration to the five prescribed areas of engineering, guidance materials for the Act, including the definition of a ‘professional engineering service’, and options for setting fees for the registration and endorsement of professional engineers.
The materials have been developed in consultation with engineers and peak engineering organisations.
A second round of public consultation will be held later this year and will focus more on the proposed registration fees.
Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister Melissa Horne encourages engineers and
“Kwinana is close to its main customers, allowing us to provide a quality product with reduced lead times while keeping the investment in WA. Our customers have the convenience of dealing with a global business, supported by a state-of-the-art conveyor belt manufacturing facility in their backyard and the assurance of technical support that understands the local operational environment,” he says.
“The plant expansion is part of our longer-term strategy, following the plant those with an interest in the profession to have their say when consultation begins on 26 August.
“The new registration scheme for engineers will enable clients to engage and use engineering services with greater confidence and will increase accountability within the profession,” Horne says.
“I invite all Victorians with an interest in the engineering profession to provide feedback on the proposed materials.”
Consultation on the materials will be available from 26 August to 7 October 2020. For more information, visit engage.
Fenner Dunlop to expand Kwinana facility with $23.5M upgrade
The upgrade will increase the plant’s capacity by a further 50 per cent.
vic.gov.au/engineers-registration. opening in 2009 and the initial expansion in 2013. While the expansion is a reflection of our success, it allows us to maintain our responsiveness in quoting, production and delivery to meet the constantly changing requirements of our customers.”
The manufacturing plant also incorporates a testing and R&D laboratory to ensure that all work is done to the highest quality and safety standards.
Site work is scheduled to start in March 2021 with the commissioning in December 2021.
Port Spencer grain export facility approved
THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
Government has approved the $230 million Port Spencer Deep Water Port grain export facility project, which is set to create a surge of economic activity in the Eyre Peninsula.
Around 150 jobs will be created during the construction works along with an operational workforce of up to 30 people.
Before construction can begin, Peninsula Ports will be required to provide final plans for all structures, along with the associated management and financial arrangements necessary to minimise impacts on the coastal and marine environment, and upgrade of the access road to the site from the Lincoln Highway.
Planning and Local Government Minister Vickie Chapman says the State Government was keen to start moving on these types of infrastructure projects as quickly as possible, given the economic benefits it will create.
COVID-19
AUSTRALIA HAS RECORDED its largest financial year trade surplus in 2019-20, off the back of booming goods exports despite the COVID-19 pandemic according to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The data found that despite the severe global economic shocks from COVID-19, Australia posted a record financial year trade surplus of $77.4 billion in 2019-20 with Australian goods exports growing by $9.29 billion or 2.5 per cent.
The country also recorded its 30th consecutive monthly trade surplus in June 2020, with $8.2 billion, the second
Around 150 jobs will be created during the construction works.
“Peninsula Ports’ modified proposal has been through the rigorous major development assessment process to amend and update the original Public Environmental Report, and I’m pleased this is one of the first major developments I have been able to tick off as the new Minister,” Chapman says.
“When completed, Port Spencer will enable large Panamax-sized vessels to be loaded and provide commercial benefits to the local grain industry through reduced transport costs, less double-handling of highest monthly trade surplus.
Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the COVID-19 pandemic was testing all Australian producers and businesses, but the data highlighted the incredible strength and resilience of our export sector.
“Despite the ongoing domestic and international challenges, Australian exporters across a range of sectors like resources, agriculture and advanced manufacturing continue to withstand global economic shocks and remain highly sought after in our key markets,” Birmingham says.
“It is a credit to our hard-working exporters that even in these incredibly grain and increased market competition that could lead to improved prices offered to growers.
“The development approval that has been issued is subject to a comprehensive set of conditions to ensure construction and operation of the port facility proceeds in an orderly fashion and in a manner which minimises impacts.”
The development approval of the infrastructure project allows on site works to commence within two years and
Australia’s exports boom despite
completion within five years. challenging economic times, their highquality, safe and reliable product remains in demand around the world.
“Notwithstanding factors such as rising export costs and disruptions to supply-chains, our exporters continue to show incredible resilience and ability to navigate through these significant global economic headwinds.
Birmingham says the continuing strength of Australia’s exporting sectors reinforces the importance for the country to keep trading channels open and accessible expanding market access through even more trade agreements and continuing to support a global, rulesbased trading system.
Less dust and more lung checks for Queensland resources workers
The move aims to protect the health and safety of the Queensland’s resources workers.
SLASHED MINE DUST LIMITS AND
free, mandatory lung health checks are now in place to protect Queensland’s mine and quarry workers.
The move extends the mandatory health checks already in place for coal mine workers to the state’s other 15,000 metalliferous mine and quarry workers.
The allowable limit for respirable coal dust has also been cut to 1.5 milligrams per cubic metre from 2.5 and from 1 to 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre for silica dust. This follows a nationwide review by Safework Australia.
Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham says the protections were the latest in a suite of reforms to protect the health and safety of the state’s resources workers.
“Every Queensland worker has the right to a healthy career and life free of occupational disease,” Lynham says.
“And the most important resource to come off a mine site every day is a worker.
“Queensland now has the toughest mine safety and health laws in the world – including the offence of industrial manslaughter.”
Every metalliferous mine and quarry worker will have a chest X-ray that is read by at least two qualified radiologists as well as a lung function test. This will happen when they start in the industry and at least once every five years during their career in the industry.
When they leave the industry, the workers can continue to have free respiratory health checks for life, if they want to.
The measures provide mineral mine and quarry workers with the same health checks as their 37,000 coal mining counterparts who already have free mandatory respiratory health screening.
The changes complement a suite of sweeping mine safety and health reforms which include: • Introducing the offence of industrial manslaughter • better detection and prevention of black lung, and other mine dust lung diseases, and an improved safety net for affected workers • $35 million to deliver reforms to improve worker safety and health a • increased maximum penalties for offences to $4 million and powers for the regulator to issue fines without going to court • statewide safety reset sessions for mine and quarry workers to refocus on health and safety • powers to suspend or cancel statutory certificates of competency • extra mines inspectors.
Women in Industry winners
The winners of the 2020 Women in Industry Awards have been announced, celebrating the outstanding success and industry work that women in traditionally male-dominated industrials markets
2020 HAS BEEN A TUMULTUOUS year at the best of times, but this has not stopped this year’s Women in Industry Awards from showcasing the best and brightest across a range of industries.
The Women in Industry Awards recognise and reward the achievements of women working across the mining, engineering, manufacturing, road transport, logistics, infrastructure, rail, bulk handling and waste industries. It aims to raise the profile of women within the industry and encourage excellence.
This year the winners were picked by a panel of judges without the gala dinner, following the national COVID-19 restrictions.
A record number of nominees across all 10 award categories were submitted for this year’s awards.
Below are the finalists and winners for the 2020 Awards:
Social Leader of the Year Finalists
Winner: Jackie Lewis-Gray – BAE Systems Australia
Nadine Yousef – Sydney Trains Sarah Withell – Whitehaven Coal Limited
Rising Star of the Year Finalists Sponsored by Atlas Copco
Winner: Alicia Heskett – Shell Australia (QGC)
Rachael Ashfield – ifm efector
Industry Advocacy Award Finalists Winner:
Rose Read – National Waste & Recycling Industry Council
Safety Advocacy Award Finalists Sponsored by BOC Ltd Winner:
Nadine Yousef – Sydney Trains
Noelani Reardon – Transport for NSW Terese Withington – Weir Minerals Australia Ltd
Tracey MacDonald – BAE Systems Australia
Mentor of the Year Finalists Winner:
Dayle Stevens – AGL Energy
Excellence in Manufacturing Finalists
Winner: Rochelle Avinu – Leica Biosystems
Rachael Ashfield – ifm efector
Excellence in Mining Finalists Winner:
Sarah Withell – Whitehaven Coal Limited
Excellence in Engineering Finalists Sponsored by BAE Systems Australia Winner:
Elizabeth Taylor – RedR International
Excellence in Transport Finalists Winner:
Melissa Strong – Lindsay Australia Limited
Judging panel
Kelly Godeau, Director Corporate Affairs – Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre Kylie Fahey, Chief Executive Officer – Institute of Quarrying Australia Christine Gibbs-Stewart, Chief Executive Officer – Austmine Melissa Donald, Board Director – National Association of Women in Operations Angela Gaylard, Head of Operations – Tradeswomen Australia Foundation Hayley Rohrlach, Chair – National Committee for Women in Engineering Denis Robertson, Founder – Roadmaster Haulage
