CanTeen kids benefit from ACRA's lawn bowls days

"We'd like to offer a genuine and heartfelt THANK YOU. The members and staff of Canteen sincerely apreciate the donation. The $2000 you have raised will help us fund important programs for young people with cancer." So wrote Andrew Young, CEO of CanTeen, in response to the money raised... More details

Call for entries to Awards '08

ACRA invites entries for the sixth biennial Awards for Excellence.

Members are encouraged to enter multiple entries in the categories detailed in the entry form.

The winners of the "Merit" or "Excellence" awards will be announced at an awards evening which will be held at the Sebel Hotel, Pier One in Sydney in November.

Those awarded will have their projects and award details published on the ACRA web site and in numerous industry publications identifying them as true leaders in the field of concrete repair and providing excellent marketing possibilities. (See previous award winners.)

Course in Melbourne covers corrosion and protection of concrete

In Melbourne 12-13 August, this course will provide a solid foundation of knowledge about the corrosion of both reinforcement and concrete, so that those working in this field can reach more effective solutions in the prevention and remediation of corroding concrete. More details and enrollment.

CIA to stage July Excellence in concrete seminar in WA

The Concrete Institute of Australia's WA brance and Cemex Australia have announced their 2008 annual technology seminar Excellence in concrete to be held Wednesday 23 July 2008, 2.00-6.30pm at the Burswood International Resort Casino The seminar will be followed by the annual gala dinner. More details.

Preliminary program out for Corrosion & Prevention 2008 in NZ

You may register using the preliminary program issued now for Corrosion & Prevention 2008: The impact of corrosion on our lives. The conference is scheduled 16-19 November 2008 for Wellington, New Zealand. Click for details.

Course in Adelaide on basics of concrete practice for engineers

Through July and August, the South Australian branch of the Concrete Institute of Australia is holding a course: Fundamentals of concrete practice for engineer, covering basic concrete technology and site practices, for engineers to understand concrete and to properly design, specify and construct with the right quality concrete for their projects.

Lasting 15 hours in five 3-hour evening sessions over five weeks, the course will be held on Tuesday 8 July (HIA), Tuesday July 15 (Uni of SA), Tuesday July 22 (HIA), Tuesday July 29 (HIA) and Tuesday August 5 (HIA). (more)

ACRA schedules seminars in Sydney and Brisbane

Three important seminars are to be staged in Sydney and Brisbane through June and July. See Seminars for more details.

Accreditation course praised by attendees

"Well worth while" was the judgment by two highly-qualified attendees of the two-day Corrosion & protection of reinforced concrete course conduted by ACRA/ACA. Read their comments and sign up for the remaining venues for 2008.

ACRA prepares inputs to Home Building Act rewrite

Anomoloies in Home Warranty Insurance are among issues being raised by ACRA in response to an invitation from the Office of Fair Trading to contribute to a rewrite of the Home Building Act.

"We have had some submissions put together by ACRA members and I am in the middle of reviewing the old HBA and adding to the suggested changes," ACRA president, Henk van den Heuval reports.

"Our main concerns are with anomalies in the Home Warranty Insurance area, especially on exemptions for buildings more than three storeys. We also have issues with licensing and unlicensed work that affect ACRA members."

Henk expects the Issues to be aired at a meeting with OFT scheduled for early in the New Year.

Among the objectives of OFT in undertaking a rewrite of the Act are to clarify the objectives of the Act, make it easier to understand and remove inconsistencies.

President's report AGM 2007

With my term as ACRA President at an end I am happy to say the Association has achieved a majority of its goals over the last two years. [more]