PRESIDENT’S REPORT
January – December 2005 Presented at Annual General Meeting – 17 May 2006

• Representing the industry at some 28 Standards Australia meetings on 17 active main code committees.
  
  
• Representing the industry to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on the Technical Committee and associated working groups in the major area of Energy Provisions.
  
  
• AS 1170.4 Earthquake Loads.
  Representing the industry at Standards Australia and ABCB committee meetings. This issue represented a major threat to all masonry walling – our work, research, network and technical expertise ensured that reasonable outcomes were achieved.
  
  
• AS 4678 Earth Retaining Structures.
  A major issue for 2005/6 – research/design benchmarking is being developed for submission to the Standards Australia committee. Once justified and AS 4678 is revised, it is possible that some reinforced systems will be more competitive.

BUILDING PRODUCTS INNOVATION COUNCIL

CMAA is a founding member of BPIC. During 2005 CMAA worked closely with BPIC – some major issues include:

• Developing over time a framework of national consistency in building regulation.
  
  
• Being recognised as a major player in the regulatory environment – BPIC will be offered a Board position on the ABCB in the near future.
  
  
• Sustainability and all its issues – the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) has approached BPIC to develop an industry database for product inputs to energy rating software. Discussion continues.
  
  
• BPIC represents a commitment from the building products industry to develop a stronger and more competitive Australian building industry.
  
  

PUBLICATIONS

• Revision of LOCKPAVE^® Segmental Pavement Design and Specification software.
  
  
• Revision of MA55 – Design and Construction of Concrete Masonry Buildings.
  
  
• Revision of MA51 – Reinforced Concrete Masonry Cantilever Retaining Walls, Design and Construction Guide.
  
  
• Revision of MA53 – Segmental Concrete Gravity Retaining Walls, Design and Construction Guide.
  
  
• Website – posting of most publications in free electronic downloadable format.
  

EDUCATION

• Participating and supporting some seven major national seminar presentations.
  
  
• Participating and presenting expert papers at five national conferences.
  
  
• Regular liaison with TAFE and national universities.
  
  

7th BIENNIAL GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD

The 7th CMAA Golden Trowel competition, which encourages excellence among apprentices in the blocklaying trade, was held at Granville TAFE.

Thirteen teams, comprising second and third-year apprentices assisted by a teacher, were required to complete highly technical challenges. Teams from all around Australia competed, including nine teams from NSW and one each from ACT, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. The team from Wollongong TAFE won the Award.

Competitors were required to build a detailed block wall featuring a herringbone panel in the centre with the motif of a trowel set at a 45-degree angle. The task required advanced block-cutting skills and attention to detail. On day two of the competition, apprentices were required to build a block barbeque.

The Golden Trowel competition provides an excellent opportunity to bring the best young apprentices from around Australia together to demonstrate their skills.

As well as being part of the organising committee, CMAA NSW members greatly supported the event with the supply of blocks for the tasks and giving their time to judge the competition.

The competition was supported by over 20 sponsors, the major sponsor being Blue Circle Southern Cement.

Worthwhile PR for the concrete masonry industry was gained from this event with Channel 9 Today Show broadcasting live from the competition floor.

RESEARCH

• King William Road study – evaluation of concrete segmental pavement.
  
  
• Single-leaf Walling – Truss Cleat Hold Down Capacity at James Cook University.

ADMINISTRATION

• Provide and resource a national technical enquiry service for members and customers.
  
  
• Review and revamp CMAA website.
  
  
• Prepare and conduct four Board meetings during the year.
  
  
• Prepare and conduct four Technical Committee meetings during the year.
  
  
• Corporate governance.
  
  
• Accounts
  • including GST, FBT, BAS, P & L, Balance Sheet monthly or as required for the national office;
  • above for CMAA State Groups.
    
    
• Prepare, co-ordinate and control budgets.

BRICK AND BLOCKLAYING TRAINING INITIATIVES

• CMAA worked closely with the CBPI at the national level to support and endorse a new national training organisation – Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation.
  
  
• A voluntary levy system approved by the ACCC has been implemented in Queensland, NSW and Victoria to fund apprentice brick/blocklaying initiatives which are aimed at reducing the current shortages of skilled tradespeople.

The activities of the CMAA are geared towards benchmarking a generic approach to principally regulatory, technical and educational issues. In the medium- to long-term, these activities strengthen the technical and image base of the industry as a whole in a global effort to maintain, support and increase the use of concrete masonry products.

The CMAA achieves its objectives well, with limited resources, staffed by a small professional team:
Alan Pearson, Executive Director
Tiere Morgan, Administration Manager
Wilma Robinson, Administrative Officer
Rod Johnston, Consultant
Brian Shackel, Consultant

Their professionalism, focus and passion continue to produce results that support and enhance the industry.

The support of the Sponsoring and General Members, and their staff, is acknowledged and essential to the success of the CMAA.

Charlie Condo
Boral Masonry
President
Concrete Masonry Association of Australia
2006