Concrete Masonry Association of Australia PRESIDENT'S REPORT May 2003

• Representing the industry at some 26 Standards Australia meetings on 16 active main code committees and 18 sub-committees.
  
  
• Representing the industry to the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) in relation to Energy Performance in Class 1 Structures (Housing). CMAA is represented on two working groups and the ABCB technical committee, and participated in some 14 separate meetings during 2002. The initiatives and outcomes of CMAA representation, research and submissions were published in the BCA Amendment 12, 1 January 2003 – masonry received favourable recognition and is well placed for the future, especially in the “deemed-to-comply sections”.
  Energy Performance for Commercial Buildings is on the regulatory agenda for 2003 – the CMAA continues its representation on the ABCB Technical Committee and Working Group structure.
• Maintaining a national, industry-wide technical enquiry service.
  
  
• Convening three meetings of the CMAA Technical Committee which is charged with the technical responsibility for the industry, eg codes and standards, technical publications etc.

Publications

• Maintaining and developing the CMAA website to disseminate information to members and the general public.
  
  
• Major investigation and performance reports on the Port of Brisbane and East Swanson Dock.
  
  
• Participating and supporting some 21 major seminars/presentations including national seminars, launching MA52 Segmental Concrete Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls - Design and Construction Guide.
  
  
• Regular liaison and co-ordination of State committees.

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, general members and their staff is acknowledged and essential to the success of the CMAA.

Bob Lenstra
CMAA President 2003