On 16 April 2010, Boral's new asphalt manufacturing facility at Ballarat was officially opened by the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Brumby MP. Around 120 guests attended the ceremony.

Boral has invested $6 million in the Ballarat area to ensure that the western region of Victoria has a high capacity, latest technology asphalt plant.

Registered to produce a full range of Vic Roads and Council specified asphalt mixes including those used on major roads and freeways, the plant also has an on-site NATA accredited laboratory for quality control.

With its location close to the Western Freeway, it is well placed to supply work as far away as the border of South Australia.

Speaking at the opening, John Douglas, Executive General Manager of Boral’s Construction Materials division said that the plant boasts a range of best practice quality and environmental controls.

"The plant is fully automated with touch screen computer control, is connected to natural gas and is capable of recycling old asphalt generated from road maintenance work. The plant is also capable of producing our latest innovation 'Lo Carb' asphalt, using up to 30% less heating energy. It includes a significant revegetation scheme with approximately 4,000 new plantings on the site."

Boral has also announced that it is spending another $28 million in the Ballarat area to build a new best technology crushing plant at its Dunnstown Quarry, located approximately 12 kilometres from the asphalt plant. The new quarry plant will replace the existing old plant which has reached the end of its operational life. It is expected that the new plant will be commissioned by July 2011 and should generate 100 new jobs during its construction.

Premier Brumby congratulated Boral on the investment and successful commissioning of the new asphalt plant and he acknowledge the Company for its further investment in the region: "I congratulate Boral on this exciting new investment which is great news for Ballarat with more local job opportunities for people in this the region.

"Today’s announcement is about Boral moving forward, it's about moving Ballarat forward and it's about moving Victoria forward."

Mr Douglas said: "The new crushing plant at Dunnstown will strengthen Boral's fully integrated construction materials business in the Ballarat area consisting of aggregates, concrete, asphalt and related transport activities, ensuring that Boral can achieve the highest levels of efficiency and environmental performance and provide quality products and ongoing employment for many years to come".

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Douglas also announced that, in association with its long-term community partner, Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), Boral would be working with the Invermay Landcare Group on their native tree revegetation program to create corridors for koalas and other native fauna around the northern fringes of the Ballarat township. "Boral and CVA have worked together to complete some 200 conservation projects across Australia over the past 22 years. It is particularly nice to be working together on another local project here in Ballarat, which is also the headquarters of CVA".

About Boral in Victoria

Around 20% of Boral's Australian revenues are derived from Victoria. In Victoria, Boral has around 1,800 employees working at 87 operating sites and a further 14 administration and distribution sites. In Victoria, Boral produces and/or distributes a broad range of construction materials, including quarry products, cement, flyash, pre-mix concrete and asphalt; and building products, including clay bricks and pavers, clay and concrete roof tiles, concrete masonry products, plasterboard, windows and timber. Boral primarily services customers in the building and construction industries.

Trade Resources

• Online Product Catalogue
• Asphalt Locations
• Material Safety Data Sheet
• Client Technical Notes
• Materials Technical Services