PRESIDENT’S REPORT
January – December 2004

• Building Products Innovation Council (BPIC) CMAA is a foundation member of BPIC – during 2004 CMAA worked closely with BPIC towards setting a framework of national consistency in building regulation. This will be reflected in a new Heads of Government Agreement in the near future.
  
  
• CMAA represented the industry at some 30 Standards Australia meetings on eight active main committees and 18 sub-committees.
  
  
• The Association represented the industry to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) responsible for the Building Code of Australia. CMAA maintains membership on the Industry Liaison Committee, which has a direct dialogue with the ABCB.
  
  
• Energy Efficiency in Buildings CMAA representatives attended some 15 working group and technical meetings to ensure optimal outcomes for the industry in the BCA for housing and commercial buildings. CMAA coordinates and chairs the industry Solid Walling Group in partnership with CBPI, NPCAA and CCAA.
  
  
• Earthquake Loading – AS 1170.4 Earthquake Loads
  The CMAA represented the industry at Standards Australia meetings, chaired and
  coordinated an industry committee in partnership with the CMAA and CBPI. This issue
  represents a major threat to all masonry walling – our work, research, network and
  technical expertise will ensure that reasonable outcomes will be achieved.

TECHNICAL

• CMAA coordinated and chaired four industry Technical Committee meetings which provided major input and direction to codes and Standards and CMAA technical publications.
  
  
• Technical material published/revised included:
  - MA55 Design and Construction of Concrete Masonry Buildings
  - MA54 Single Leaf Masonry – Design Manual
  - MA51 Reinforced Concrete Masonry Cantilever Retaining Walls – Design and Construction Guide
  - MA52 Segmental Concrete Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls – Design and Construction Guide
  - MA53 Segmental Concrete Gravity Retaining Walls – Design and Construction Guide
  - Website Most technical publications posted on site in electronic downloadable format
  
  
• CMAA continued to provide a national technical enquiry service to CMAA members and
  their customers.
  
  
• Publication revisions:
  MA45 – Concrete Masonry Handbook
  HB156 – Segmental Reinforced Retaining Walls – Design and Construction.

EDUCATION and TRAINING

• CMAA organised and conducted a national seminar series on Retaining Wall Systems in:
  * Sydney
  * Brisbane
  * Rockhampton
  * Mackay
  * Townsville
  * Cairns
  * Melbourne
  * Hobart
  * Adelaide
  * Perth
  * Darwin
  * Wollongong
  
  
• The Association participated and supported some eight national major seminars and
  conference presentations.
  
  
• Clay and Concrete Segmental Paving Council (CCSPC-NSW) CMAA administered the organisation and conducted four segmental paviour courses in partnership with TAFE NSW. The CMAA regularly liaises with TAFE and universities.
  
  
• The CMAA is building partnerships with the CBPI in regard to apprentice brick-blocklayer training. An ACCC approved producer-customer levy system, geared towards training, was progressed during 2004. The current status of the levy system is:
  * Victoria Industry scheme operating - ongoing
  * Queensland Industry scheme operating - CMAA established links with CBPA-Qld and will contribute to the system from 1 July 2005
  * NSW Industry scheme operating - CMAA established links with CBPI-NSW and will contribute to the system from 1 July 2005
  * SA and WA - Ongoing liaison to structure a scheme by 2006
  
  This initiative and support is fundamental to the masonry walling industry – it is a vote for a strong and sustained future.

The results of all this work and activity (plus others too numerous to list) are in some instances not directly measurable. However the activities can be seen to be geared towards enhancing the image and technical integrity of the industry in an effort to maintain, support and increase the use of concrete masonry products in Australia.

ADMINISTRATION

The CMAA is staffed by a small team, namely:
Alan Pearson, Executive Director
Tiere Morgan, Administration Manager
Wilma Robinson, Administrative Officer (part-time)

Their professional focus, dedication and belief have continued to produce exceptional results with minimal resources.

The contributions of a small number of consultants, Rod Johnston (Quasar), Brian Shackel (University of NSW) deserve recognition for their participation in key CMAA objectives. Also, the efforts and support of the sponsoring members and their employees is essential to the success of the CMAA. The support by all of these people is very much recognised and appreciated by all the CMAA staff.

A continued focus by the CMAA on external issues and industry cooperation should see our masonry industry develop into the future.


Malcolm Pointon
President
Concrete Masonry Association of Australia
May 2005