In this month’s message I am pleased to report on three other APIA initiatives which will also provide enduring benefits to our industry.
First, I am pleased to advise that Part C of the APIA Environmental Code of Practice – covering onshore pipeline decommissioning – has been approved for public release by the APIA Board and is now available on the APIA website. This section completes all sections of the APIA Code of Environmental Practice. I expect that revision of Part A – covering pipeline design and construction – will commence later this year.
Second, I am very pleased to report progress on the APIA Construction Safety Guideline which was released for comment during the APIA Convention last October. As Chair of the group which developed this Guideline, I very much welcome the feedback from
members which has been invaluable in finalising the document. The Guideline provides advice to members on the incorporation of safety issues in the overall preparation of project construction safety plans. Part A provides an outline of key considerations in the preparation of a construction safety plan, including matters associated with safety management systems and the role of formal safety assessments. Part B should be considered work in progress in relation to the key issues where more detailed guidance will be provided to members progressively through the APIA Health and Safety Committee. Having carefully reviewed the Guideline the Committee is now ready to embark on more detailed consultations with our technical regulators around the nation. These consultations form part of our critical path in having the Guideline adopted as regulatory “best practice” around the country and the committee has developed a detailed strategy to progress early implementation of the Guideline by regulatory bodies.
Finally, I welcome the news that all APIA’s recommendations regarding amendments to the draft regulations under the new Queensland Petroleum and Pipeline legislation have been adopted. This will benefit Queensland based APIA owners and operators by providing greater regulatory certainty and consistency and represents an excellent example of yet another area where your industry association has achieved an excellent result on behalf of its members.
On behalf of APIA, I welcome Cheryl Cartwright as our new Chief Executive. Cheryl will progressively meet APIA members at various functions and to date has attended the Brisbane dinner in February (before she officially took up the position) and the Adelaide lunch in March. The APIA Board looks forward to working with Cheryl as the Association addresses the review of the Business Plan and the various regulatory issues. I am confident that with Cheryl’s problem-solving skills, her political contacts and her understanding of the political system, APIA will further enhance its reputation as a peak industry body.