Review of Operating Divisions - Australian Construction Materials
Australian Construction Materials (ACM) is a decentralised business operating at over 400 sites. This poses significant challenges in driving improvement programs and ensuring consistent and accurate measurement and reporting. This year we focused on improving reporting and controls. We continued to roll out a best practice national Safety Management System and a national Environmental Management System that is in accordance with ISO 14001. A centralised energy data capture system allowed us to provide more robust reporting data in line with the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System. Despite capital constraints we invested in further five compressed natural gas (CNG) powered concrete agitators in an effort to reduce Boral’s reliance on diesel and to find a cleaner alternative transport fuel.
Energy and BSDT
Review Of Operating Divisions Page Nav Human Resources Environment Marketplace and supply chain Social responsibility
  Our performance Our goals/plans
Human resources
Health
and safety
  • Employee LTIFR of 2.6 and % hours lost of 0.09, both better than improvement targets.
  • LTIFR for contractors of 2.4 was well ahead of target due to fewer injuries, improved contractor safety management, and more rigorous hours capture.
  • Regional implementation plans for ACM's OHS Management System (OHSMS) were developed; roll-out commenced in January 2009.
  • Closed out actions from electrical audits for all sites.
 25% improvement on last three year average LTIFR and % hours lost.
  • 50% of all OHSMS programs and standards implemented by 30 June 2010.
  • 100% closure of all high/extreme risk actions in nominated timeframes.
  • Structural audits completed in all businesses.
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  Our performance Our goals/plans
Environment
Energy conservation
and climate change
  • Total energy use of 5.4 million GJ and GHG emissions of 527,000 tonnes of CO2 decreased by 7% and 8% respectively on a comparable basis, due to lower production and efficiency gains.
  • Quarries energy and GHG emissions per unit both reduced by 2%, reflecting continued energy audits and an ongoing energy efficiency program.
  • Boral Transport implemented procedural improvements to reduce diesel use through driver training and by reducing waiting time.
 Reduce emissions per unit and offset increases in absolute emissions as a result of market demand growth.
  • Continue energy efficiency audits and programs in quarries, focusing on improvements in diesel efficiency.
  • Provision of EcoDriver training to drivers to improve diesel efficiency.
  • Continue the geographic roll-out of CNG agitators, which currently involves 10 vehicles.
  • Upgrade NSW Transport fleet to capture modern engine efficiencies.
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Water conservation, extraction
and protection
  • Mains water use of 1,144 million litres was down 20% year on year, due to higher rainwater availability as a result of previous investments in rainwater capture.
  • Quarries decreased its mains water use per unit of production by 44% mainly through use of on-site captured water.
  • Concrete decreased its mains water use per unit of production by 3% due to water reduction projects including installation of rainwater tanks and increased use of treated water in concrete batching.
 Reduce mains water consumption across the division.
  • Increase capture and use of rainwater in Quarries and Concrete.
  • Further installation of water tanks.
  • Increase use of treated water at concrete plants.
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Waste and resource management, recycling and
re-use
  • ACM re-used and recycled 331,000 tonnes of concrete waste and recycled asphalt profiling (RAP), down 31% due mainly to the completion of the Eastlink project, which was RAP intensive, and an industry 10% reduction in concrete volumes.
  • In ACM’s recycling business which takes external building waste, replacing virgin resources, recycled and re-used waste volumes were 42% above FY2006, but down 14% on last year due mainly to lower activity.
 Provide customers with sustainable product solutions.
  • Further understand the lifecycle impacts of building products and materials.
  • Engagement with customers to develop innovative new sustainable concrete mixes.
  • Expand application of recycled asphalt pavement.
  • Identify opportunities to support environmental standards.
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  Our performance Our goals/plans
Marketplace and supply chain
Sales and marketing
  • Net Balance audited and verified the systems for producing Envirocrete ™ concrete mix designs that include cement substitution and recycled aggregates, which helps customers to achieve green star ratings.
  • Boral ACM is participating in an industry-wide project, managed by the Building Products Innovation Council, to understand lifecycle impacts of different building materials.
  • ACM worked with Mirvac to supply Envirocrete™ to the Harmony 9 house in Waverley Park (Vic), helping the house achieve a 9-star energy rating.
 Provide customers with sustainable product solutions.
  • Further understand the lifecycle impacts of building products and materials.
  • Engagement with customers to develop innovative new sustainable concrete mixes.
  • Expand application of recycled asphalt pavement.
  • Identify opportunities to support environmental standards.
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  Our performance Our goals/plans
Social responsibility
Community relations and engagement
  • Stakeholder risk assessments undertaken for all key sites; Stakeholder Engagement Plans developed for sensitive quarry sites. Community consultation programs were in place at key sites and for new developments.
  • Boral engaged with native title claimants relating to Tabba Tabba Quarry in WA. The Ngarla group escalated a claim over an access road to the Mining Warden’s Court, resulting in the temporary closure of the quarry until agreement was reached in July 2009.
 Maintain the support and goodwill of communities surrounding Boral’s activities through engaging and consulting on relevant issues.
  • Continue community relations and engagement initiatives for key sites, including Tabba Tabba Quarry.
  • Continue to undertake stakeholder risk assessments for all businesses, prioritising sites that require development of stakeholder engagement plans.
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About Australian Construction Materials
ACM, Boral’s largest division, has a diverse number of businesses including Quarries, Concrete, Asphalt, Transport, and Quarry End Use, which incorporates a landfill operation at Deer Park in Victoria. The division has 409 operating sites, around 4,200 employees and 2,600 FTE contractors in Australia. ACM’s sustainability data include second brand operations Concrite, Alsafe, GoCrete, Q-Crete and Allens Asphalt. ACM’s total GHG emissions include Boral’s Deer Park landfill operations.
1 In preparation for reporting under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, the reporting scope has increased, including emissions from    landfill operations. Historical comparisons have been adjusted to take into account additional scope.
2 If quantitative waste data is not available, waste is calculated through a mass balance equation or estimated through sampling. Waste recycled/re-used    includes both internal waste and external by-products consumed.
3 Indexed to 100% in FY06 as base year. Energy/GHG calculations based on total quarries energy and GHG emissions divided by tonnes of quarries    production; recycling and RAP calculation based on own waste re-used in tonnes divided by tonnes of RAP and NSW recycling.
4 Indexed to 100% in FY07 as base year due to improved reporting. Water calculations based on total water use in concrete divided by m³ of concrete    production.