Check out what Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) members have been up to in this wrap-up of the latest events from around Australia.
Far North Queensland’s bowls evening
Swapping steel caps for bare feet, Far North Queensland sub-branch members took to the greens at West Cairns Bowling Club for a vibrant evening of bowls on 1 November.
Against a backdrop of colourful tropical shirts, industry colleagues shared laughs, barbecue and friendly competition.
Thanks to committee member Keoni Kidner’s organisation, the casual Friday evening proved a perfect way for FNQ members to strengthen industry bonds beyond the quarry gate.
North Queensland’s festive farewell to 2024
Townsville’s historic Heritage Exchange came alive on 15 November as North Queensland branch members gathered for their year-end celebration. The atmospheric venue buzzed with industry conversations, while soloist Ben Bennett from HeartSongs Entertainment provided the perfect soundtrack for the evening.
Under the guidance of branch chair Paul Hooton and deputy chair Lawrie Fahey, and with support from MS Fabrications QLD, the event captured the spirit of regional camaraderie that’s become a hallmark of North Queensland’s industry gatherings, setting an upbeat tone for 2025’s program.
Hunter branch ends year with family flair
The Hunter branch added a fresh twist to their year-end celebration as 53 quarrying professionals and their families gathered at Charlestown Golf Club on 28 November.
Under the guidance of branch chair Greg Dressler, the evening struck a perfect balance between professional networking and family entertainment.
Supported by Westrac and Rimex, the evening saw quarrying professionals involved in a spirited dress-up competition.
The family-friendly format proved a welcome innovation, bringing a new dimension to industry connections as children joined their parents in the celebrations.
Northern NSW branch wraps up 2024
From hard rock to river sand, Northern NSW branch members experienced the region’s quarrying diversity during their November Grafton tour. Thirty participants explored McLennan’s drill and blast quarry operations and CDE wash plant, before heading to Boral’s Grafton site where excavator dredging extracts sand and gravel from the Clarence River. The day wrapped up at Humes’ state-of-the-art precast concrete pipe facility.
A vibrant networking event followed, where 50 industry professionals gathered to hear CDE discuss wash plant technologies and Westrac showcase their VisionLink Equipment Management Software. The successful day showcased the best of the Northern Rivers quarrying sector, with the branch already planning their next regional tour for 2025
Wollongong Golf Club hosts Southern NSW’s year-end celebration
Against the backdrop of Wollongong’s coastal skyline, the Southern NSW branch gathered for its final 2024 celebration on 27 November. Forty-one quarrying professionals joined an evening that balanced formal insights with relaxed networking.
The evening buzzed with industry conversation as branch chair Michael Holz reflected on the year’s achievements, while Westrac’s presentation sparked engaging discussions over a premium buffet, strengthening the region’s quarrying connections.
The branch’s commitment to professional development shone through with IQA’s Mikayla Stephen sharing valuable updates on education opportunities for individuals and companies, rounding out an engaging evening of industry collaboration.
Queensland branch hosts inspiring fireside chat
The Queensland branch’s November fireside chat brought industry members together at the Hamilton Hotel’s Gus’s Guestroom on 28 November. The evening’s spotlight guest, Awesome Women in Construction (AWIC) Founder and CEO Amanda Bulow, sparked lively discussions among attendees.
Sponsored by Orana Drill & Blast, the event provided an intimate setting for industry networking and knowledge sharing, adding to the branch’s dynamic 2024 program.
SA branch concludes 2024 with critical health and safety focus
The SA branch concluded its 2024 calendar with a comprehensive work health and safety technical breakfast seminar at the Adelaide Pavilion on 22 November. The early-morning session drew significant industry attendance, highlighting the sector’s commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.
Sarah Pennington and Paul Thompson from the Department for Energy and Mining’s regulation and compliance division, delivered important insights into the change to operations process and provided updates on the mining and exploration regulation (MERs) system upgrade. This presentation offered valuable guidance for operators navigating regulatory requirements.
The event’s focus on emerging health and safety challenges continued with Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee (MAQOHSC) WHS specialist Peter Williams, who detailed the new work health and safety regulations specifically addressing crystalline silica substance management – a topic of increasing importance in the quarrying sector.
A particularly impactful presentation came from Michael Williams, general manager Operations at Adbri, who shared critical learnings from a serious fall from heights incident at their Klein Point mine in 2021. Williams’ candid discussion covered the incident’s impact on the injured operator, the broader workforce, and the subsequent regulatory response through SafeWorkSA’s enforceable undertaking mechanism.
The morning also celebrated professional achievements, with membership certificates presented to John Schulz from AdBri (TMIQ) and Lynton Nitschke from Hallett Group (MIQ), reflecting the industry’s ongoing commitment to professional development.
“The strong attendance at this final event for 2024 demonstrates our industry’s dedication to workplace health and safety,” James Rowe, IQA SA Branch Chairperson said. “The practical insights shared by our speakers, particularly regarding real incident learnings and regulatory updates, provide valuable take-home messages for all attendees.”
Brews and business mark Tasmania’s year-end gathering
The Tasmanian branch crafted a memorable finale to 2024, blending history with strategy in Launceston on 28 November. The day began with members exploring the craft and culture behind James Boag’s iconic brews during an exclusive brewery tour, before transitioning to The Sports Garden Hotel for branch business and celebration.
The evening proved an ideal platform for both reflection and looking ahead, as members elected their 2024–25 committee while strengthening industry connections over dinner.
The successful format, blending Tasmania’s brewing heritage with branch planning, energised members for the year ahead, with anticipation already building for the branch’s upcoming Bridport IQA technical and social weekend.
Championing sustainability at Victorian spring technical night
Sustainability was front of mind at the IQA’s Victorian branch spring technical night, which featured a site tour of Alex Fraser’s Epping facility and a keynote speech from Kayasand’s Frank Grech.
IQA members from across Australia visited Alex Fraser’s Northern Sustainable Supply Hub, which contains a high-volume construction and demolition recycling facility, a new rock crushing plant, and a Benninghoven asphalt plant. The plant produces recycled content asphalt mixes containing up to 70 per cent recycled materials, including reclaimed asphalt pavement, glass sand, recycled tyre products, and plastics.
Alex Fraser general manager of recycling Murray Butterworth provided an overview of the company’s supply offerings, including its commitment to compliance, competitiveness, and sustainability.
The company has recovered and recycled more than 58 million tonnes of concrete, brick, rock, asphalt and glass to produce high-quality, high-specification, recycled products needed to build greener roads, rail, bridges, pipelines and ports.
Following the site tour, attendees learnt more about how engineered sand can improve supply chain security for Australian construction.
“Victoria, in particular, can see a natural sand shortage on the horizon,” Grech told Quarry at the event.
“It’s getting more difficult to access these sands, so the industry needs to look for alternatives.”
Kayasand’s innovative Kemco V7 technology enables quarries to engineer sand of such high quality, it completely removes the need to use natural sand in concrete. The ability to precisely control the shape, grading, contamination and consistency of the sand enables quarries to play a critical role in the construction industry’s path to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Grech said that for concrete plants, engineered sand makes stronger concrete that uses less cement and has lower carbon emissions.
“For quarries it means greater utilisation of crusher dust, lower costs and ‘washing without water’,” he said.
“The result is a profitable and sustainable alternative to natural sand.”
Grech has worked extensively in crushing and screening, contract negotiation and business development, previously holding senior roles at Holcim Australia and Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology. He is also a director and ambassador at the IQA.
“The IQA supports the industry in total – from processing to safety, diversity, resources and more,” he said.
“These networking events are important. They provide us with an opportunity to share our knowledge, learn about new technologies, and rediscover the value of existing ones.”
The event also included a presentation about rockbreaking technology, delivered by Michael Baumann, Breakers and Attachments’ Victorian branch manager.
Victorian branch closes 2024 with Bendigo celebration
The Victorian sub-branch concluded their 2024 calendar with a dynamic end of year networking dinner at Bendigo’s All Seasons Resort Hotel on 28 November. The evening drew 87 industry professionals and featured AFL identity Glenn Manton, who delivered an engaging keynote address, sharing inspiring stories and encouraging active audience participation.
A highlight of the evening was IQA CEO Jane Schmitt’s presentation of the FIQ badge and certificate to John Mawson.
The event, which included a presentation from Komatsu’s Rob Saxby, brought together key industry figures including IQA president Michael Close, branch chairs from Victoria and South Australia, and six IQA Ambassadors, ending the year on a high note.
IQA WA golf day drives industry connection at Joondalup
The IQA’s Western Australian branch celebrated another successful golf day at the prestigious Joondalup Resort on 22 November, drawing together more than 100 industry professionals for a day of networking, friendly competition, and community building.
The annual event showcased the strong collaborative spirit within Western Australia’s quarrying sector, with Westrac leading as the major sponsor. Teams representing various segments of the industry competed on the picturesque championship course, including dedicated Women in Quarrying (WIQ) and Young Member Network (YMN) teams, highlighting IQA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“The enthusiastic participation from across our industry made this year’s Golf Day particularly memorable,” Johannes Barnard, WA Branch Chairperson said.
“It’s heartening to see the event evolve into more than just a golf tournament – it’s become a vital platform for strengthening industry relationships and fostering collaboration.”
The event featured comprehensive support from industry leaders, with 15 gold sponsors including Liebherr Australia, Orica Australia, and Hitachi Construction Machinery. Special features included a massage tent sponsored by B&F Consolidated, refreshment services by MACA’s drinks cart, and a well-attended post-golf function hosted by Komatsu.
The tournament format encouraged both experienced golfers and newcomers, with team and individual registrations available. Each registration included green fees, golf cart hire, lunch, and post-game refreshments, ensuring a full day of engagement for all participants.
Strong backing came from WA State Sponsors, with CJD Equipment and B&J Catalano as WA major sponsors and Komatsu supporting Women in Quarrying initiatives. Additional support from WA Premium Sponsors and National Partners, including Metso and Astec, reinforced the event’s significance in the industry calendar.
“The success of this year’s Golf Day reflects the robust state of our industry and its commitment to community,” Barnard said. “These events play an essential role in maintaining the strong networks that characterise our sector.” •
Upcoming events
|
Event |
Date |
Time (AEST) |
Location |
|
Critical control management workshop |
30 January |
9:00am – 1:15pm |
28–30 Computer Rd, Yatala, Queensland |
|
Can I facilitate? |
30 January |
3:00pm – 5:00PM (AEDT) |
Online |
For more information, visit quarry.com.au
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