Industry Updates for Queensland's Waste Management and Materials Recovery Sector
Waste Recycling Industry Association (QLD) inc (WRIQ)
Representing waste, resource recovery & circular economy businesses - we are essential for community & environment.
EVENTS
Workforce Planning Insights for Small Business Webinar
Small businesses needing to attract and retain staff can now benefit from a free webinar offering practical advice as part of Queensland Small Business Month 2023.
The webinar will demonstrate the benefits of workforce planning for small and medium-sized enterprises to overcome economic and labour market challenges. Jobs Queensland's Executive Director, Joshua Rayner will introduce participants to the free Jobs Queensland Workforce Planning Connect toolkit and workbook.
The webinar has?two timeslots available covering the same topics. Register below?to participate in the session most suitable for you:
Webinar #1 - Tuesday 23 May, 9.00am - 10.00am
Webinar #2 - Thursday 25 May, 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Free workforce planning short courses and one-on-one support are also available.?For more information visit Jobs Queensland.
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NEWS
Business Growth Fund Now Open
The Business Growth Fund?grants program has been developed for high-growth businesses who can accelerate growth, drive Queensland’s economy and employ more Queenslanders. The program is a great opportunity for small and medium-sized high-growth businesses to access up to $75,000 to scale-up for business success and seize their next growth opportunity.?It provides funding for eligible businesses to buy specialised equipment, enabling them to unlock growth potential, increase production, expand their workforce and move them into the next stage of growth.
Expressions of Interest for Round 5 opened on Monday 8 May and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 2 June.?Review the Guidelines and FAQs here.?
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Federal Government DCCEEW Restructures
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has restructured (see the webpage).?
Much of the former Environment Protection Division’s work is now within the Circular Economy Division. Regulatory functions of the former Environment Protection Division have transferred to a new Environmental Permitting and Compliance Division in anticipation of a future federal environmental protection agency.
The Division will include a Wildlife, Waste and Environmental Permits branch responsible for regulatory functions associated with waste exports, hazardous waste, product emissions standards, ozone and synthetic greenhouse gases, environmental contamination advice and the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. ?
Review of WHS Act (Qld) Completed
The operation of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) (WHS Act) was the subject of a 2022 independent review commissioned by the Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing.
Overall, the review found that safety outcomes improve when workers are empowered to have an active role in safety, and where there are high levels of cooperation between workers and persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs). Key themes in the recommendations include:
The WHS Act Review Final Report contains 31 recommendations, consisting of 55 sub-recommendations. The Final Report was publicly released on Monday 1 May 2023 and the Government has accepted all its recommendations. A copy of the final report and Government response can be found here.
The Office of Industrial Relations is now working to implement the recommendations of the Review. It is anticipated legislation will be introduced to Parliament later this year to implement the majority of the recommendations.
Industry Skills Australia Launches
Industry Skills Australia is the new Jobs and Skills Council for the transport and logistics sectors and will be responsible for a range of functions, including:
The significance of workforce development has never been more important as highlighted by WRIQ’s Workforce Summary and Workforce Survey Results. A future-ready and agile workforce with transferable skills will enable greater workforce mobility and increased efficiency across the transport, logistics and rail industries. ISA have announced the launch of their new website with updated content and enhanced functionality.?Click here to explore the new website.
Changes to Clean Earth Status and New Application Forms Available
Please remember that from 1?July 2023, the general levy exemption for clean earth disposed to waste disposal sites is proposed to be removed from the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.?Those waste disposal sites wishing to continue to use clean earth as an exempt waste will need to apply to the department (DES) to do so. Those waste disposal sites wishing to continue to use clean earth as an exempt waste from 1 July 2023 will need to apply to the department using the new forms to do so.
The application forms guiding this process have now been updated and are ready for use, please go to Applications and forms | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au).
Please note:
An OSOP approval may be authorised under section 28 of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 (WRR Act), as waste to be used at a levyable waste disposal site for a purpose necessary for the operation of the site, and may be exempt from the waste levy by application. Examples of purposes necessary for the operation of the site, outlined in section 28, include but may not be limited to:
If you believe your waste disposal site operations will be affected by the removal of the clean earth exemption, please contact the Waste Levy Services team early to discuss your site’s situation and application requirements.?You can contact the Levy Services team at ?[email protected] or visit the waste levy web page at www.qld.gov.au/wastedisposallevy
New Quantum Strategy Released
On 3 May, the new National Quantum Strategy was released seeking to grow Australia’s quantum industry. The strategy sets out the Australian Government’s long-term quantum vision. It outlines how we will seize our quantum future and remain a global leader. The strategy focuses on 5 themes, the outcomes from many will become increasingly relevant to the waste management and materials recovery sector:
? thriving research and development, investment in and use of quantum technologies
? securing access to essential quantum infrastructure and materials
? a skilled and growing quantum workforce
? standards and frameworks that support national interests
? a trusted, ethical and inclusive quantum ecosystem.
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CONSULATIONS
Review of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy
On Friday, 31 March 2023, the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy?draft review report was published by the Department of Environment and Science. The review of the strategy covers a three-year period from 2019–2022 and seeks to:
You are invited to provide feedback on the draft review report has been extended until 5:00pm Friday 19 May 2023.
The department has also proposed that future reviews will be conducted in a five yearly cycle, rather than three yearly (see the Waste Reduction and Recycling and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023). If you require further information, please email [email protected].?Following the consultation process, submissions will be considered, and the final review report will be completed.?More information on the strategy and the review is available here.
TMR Consultation – Updates to Asphalt Specifications
Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is proposing to update its technical specifications for asphalt and its technical note for the registration of asphalt mix designs. Submissions on the proposed changes close Friday 19 May 2023.?In summary the key proposed changes are as follows:
·??????Changes/updates to the test methods in some cases.
·??????Changes to the requirements for placement trials for EME2 as captured in the proposed update to Clause 8.4 of MRTS32.
o??A3 and A2 prequalified contractors will need to do a placement trial.
o??A4 prequalified contractors will only need to do a placement trial if specified in the annexure to MRTS30.
·??????Update to requirements related to the use of nuclear density gauges, including related changes to the requirements for asphalt quality plans.
·??????Rood roughness/ride quality:
o??Update the road roughness incentive payment requirements in MRS30 to be consistent with TfNSW requirements.
o??Road roughness will be assessed over 100 m intervals instead of 100 to 500 m intervals.?This change is intended to achieve consistency with other TMR specifications and TfNSW requirements.
o??Change in terminology to use ‘road roughness’ (e.g. rather than ‘ride quality’).?This change is intended to achieve consistency with other TMR specifications.
·??????Require cores of open graded asphalt, extracted as part of the pavement trial, to be tested for bulk density in accordance with AS/NZS 2891.9.3
·??????Replacing the notes for Table 4 in (the current published version) of MRTS30 with proposed specification clauses as per Clause 4.1 of the proposed updated version of MRTS30.
·??????Moving the flakiness index requirement for aggregate in EME2 from MRTS32 to TMR’s MRTS101 Aggregates for Asphalt technical specification (MRTS101)
·??????Note added to Table 7.4.6 in MRTS30.
o??This change is intended to address polymer modified binders containing crumb rubber (with the maximum temperature limited to 165 degrees Celsius) and open graded asphalt (where the manufacturing temperature might be reduced to limit asphalt binder drain-off).
·??????Referencing TMR’s MRTS56 Construction Surveying technical specification for geometric testing frequency requirements.
·??????Update to the requirements for asphalt mix design registration viz. Technical Note 148 Asphalt Mix Design Registration (TN148) – the proposed changes are summarised below and captured in the attached draft update to TN148:
o??Some of the requirements for asphalt mix design registration have been moved from MRTS30 to TN148.
o??TN148 has been restructured to improve clarity for the reader/user.
o??Changes to make provision for registration of mixes to Project Specific Technical Specifications (PSTSs).
o??Changes to allow registration of mix designs based on test results for laboratory prepared mix (for use in small scale trials).
o??The time period between mix testing and submission of results for mix design registration has been reduced from 12 months to 3 months (to be consistent with TfNSW).?
o??Changes to make provision for virgin EME2 mixes (i.e. 0% RAP) to be registered with up to 15% RAP without the need for further performance testing (i.e. testing with 15% RAP included). However, a production trial of the RAP mix will still be required.
o??Changes to clarify RAP approval level requirements for asphalt mix design registration.
o??Changes to clarify the use of production mix test results for re-registration of EME2 mix designs.
o??Changes to make provision for registration of non-standard and non-conforming mix designs.
o??Changes to make provision for asphalt mix designs to be registered for a period of up to 3 years (instead of 2 years), subject to Contractors submitting their aggregate, filler and RAP test results to TMR’s Asphalt Mix Design Registrar on an annual basis (as a separate submission).?
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For copies of the draft versions of the proposed updates please contact [email protected] The documents being amended are:
o??MRS and MRTS30 Asphalt Pavements specifications
o??MRTS32 High Modulus Asphalt (EME2) specification
o??Technical Note 148 Asphalt Mix Design Registration