QPA Showcase 08 places spotlight on a responsible and essential industry

• 
• 25th August 2008
• Quarrying
 

 

QPA held its Showcase 08 event on 3 July at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.  The provocative event, attended by an audience of over 470 key stakeholders and industry delegates, took an issues-driven approach to highlight major successes in the industry as well as exploring challenges ahead. 

Hosted by Channel 4 broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy, the event featured live presentations on stage and pre-filmed pieces offering an insight into the industry.  The event also served as both a platform for the chairman to update on progress against the Carbon Reduction Statement of Intent and for the QPA to make a new pledge to significantly expand its work on biodiversity. New research from the QPA has revealed that the industry's land holdings amount to over 300 sq km - equivalent to the area of a National Park such as the Norfolk Broads. This land provides real opportunities for the industry to increase its contribution to UK biodiversity.

Simon van der Byl's the QPA's director general's  announcement included: a commitment to develop a biodiversity strategy setting out how the industry's contribution to biodiversity can be further improved; a drive to ensure the industry is visibly regarded as a key contributor to UK biodiversity targets; and dedicated work QPA members and stakeholders to identify action required for the industry to contribute to national biodiversity and SSSI targets

The event also presented the QPA Restoration Awards, now in their 38th year, with the winners being announced by special guest Graham Wynne, chief executive of the RSPB. The awards celebrate the steps operators continue to take to restore quarried land to beneficial after-uses and reward some of the best examples of sustainable practice.  From the eight entries, Hanson Aggregates' Otley Quarry in West Yorkshire, which has been transformed into a first class nature reserve, won the coveted top prize for outstanding quarry restoration: the Cooper-Heyman Cup. The former sand and gravel operation displayed leading practice on restoration for wildlife, going far above and beyond the level expected by planning authorities.

The Chairman's Trophy was awarded this year to Eton Aggregates' Dorney Lake in Berkshire for the exceptional social contribution it has made, locally, nationally and internationally.  Dorney Lake has been restored to a 2200 m Olympic standard rowing course, park, arboretum and nature conservation area, and will be used for the 2012 Olympic rowing and canoeing events. Eton Aggregates a consortium featuring QPA members CEMEX, Lafarge and Tarmac.

In his speech Graham commented that the quarrying industry had already demonstrated some wonderful examples of restoration, but he challenged operators to go even further in their contributions towards national biodiversity.

Lynda Thompson, QPA chairman, commented: "The 2008 entries to the awards have been highly impressive and our winners thoroughly deserve their prizes.  These awards show just how much our industry can achieve through restoration to promote biodiversity and benefit the local community".

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