30 Cromwell Street Burwood 3125 Victoria Australia T: 03 8831 2800 F: 03 9888 8459www.amca.com.au

Air Conditioning & Mechanical Contractors’ Association of Australia Limited

2011 is a year of celebration for the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association.

The Association will have completed 50 years of service to its members and the industry.

AMCA was established in Victoria in 1961. Associations followed in other states quickly. From these humble beginnings the Association now has a full-time presence in every state.

AMCA is a tightly focused organisation in its service delivery. The Association provides services and representation to air-conditioning and mechanical services companies operating in the commercial sector of the industry only.

This sector of the market is unique. In order to operate, companies need to have a strong financial base as well as solid engineering and technical expertise.

AMCA members have worked on many of the iconic construction projects around Australia.

Over the past 50 years AMCA has taken up many causes on behalf of its members. Key amongst these has been security of payment, industrial negotiations, development and delivery of training programs, and advocacy for equitable contract conditions.

AMCA has a record of achievement that is second to none. This first 50 years provides a solid base to take up the challenges for the next 50 years.

To celebrate this important milestone AMCA will host a national gala dinner in Melbourne on Saturday 21 May 2011. The event will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Those wishing to participate in this milestone event and other activities can book and register at www.destination.com.au/amca/50Years/

1. AMCA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

2. AMCA JOINS ABCB

3. NEW NEBB CHAIR

4. EVENTS CALENDAR

AMCA’S events for the coming months

AMCA proudly supports the Oncology Children’s Foundation.

IN THIS ISSUE

VIEWSFEBRUARY 2011

PROUDLY SUPPORTING AMCA

AMCA CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE

AMCA Conference 2011Following on from the success of the 2010 Conference held in Maui, AMCA will be holding its 2011 Conference in beautiful Sanctuary Cove in Queensland between 4 - 7 October. The conference will provide delegates with a well balanced program of business and social activities. Those interested members are able to register their interest with Destination Events.

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EXTENDING NABERS RATING TOOLPrior to Christmas, the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water released a position paper to canvas industry opinion on the most effective means of extending the NABERS Energy for Offices rating scale to meet the future needs of the commercial property sector. Comments are sought on the proposed extension of the scale, and the scope and timing of its implementation.

The discussion paper can be accessed at www.nabers.com.au/news.

Responses are due on 18 February 2011. AMCA will submit a response to this discussion paper. For further details regarding AMCA’s response please contact Mr Sumit Oberoi, on (03) 8831 2815, or alternatively by email: sumitoberoi@amca.com.au.

AMCA JOINS ABCB COMMITTEE

As part of their broader reforms through the National Partnership to Deliver a Seamless National Economy, the Council of Australian Governments has tasked the Australian Building Codes Board with consolidating building and plumbing into a National Construction Code. This has, in effect, given the Board responsibility for national plumbing regulatory code writing matters, in the same manner as their building code role.

Representatives from government and industry will form the Plumbing Code Committee which will help advise ways to improve plumbing processes in the National Construction Code. AMCA is delighted to be appointed to be represented at this important Committee and is well positioned to support the ABCB in advising ways to improve outcomes underpinning the National Construction Code.

From 1 July 2011 businesses that invest in eligible assets or capital works to improve the energy efficiency of an existing building may be eligible to apply for a one-off bonus tax deduction.

The tax deduction will cover specified capital expenditure which is incurred as part of a qualifying retrofit of an existing office building, hotel or shopping centre. Eligible businesses will be able to claim a bonus tax deduction of 50% of specified capital expenditure invested in energy efficiency improvements to the existing building.

The retrofit must be assessed by an accredited National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) assessor before and after the project. To be eligible for the tax break, the building must achieve an improvement in energy

efficiency from 2 stars or lower to 4 stars or higher between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2015.

The Tax Breaks for Green Buildings program complements other Australian Government programs such as the Commercial Buildings Disclosure program and the Green Building Fund. Action to improve the energy performance of Australia’s building stock is an important step to achieving Australia’s emissions reduction objectives.

The Government will seek to introduce legislation establishing the Tax Breaks for Green Buildings program in the first half of 2011.

The discussion paper can be accessed at: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/

TAX BREAKS FOR GREEN BUILDINGS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Master Builders Australia has commissioned its third annual report on the economic value the ABCC has had on building industry productivity.

The report undertaken by KPMG Econtech has confirmed the findings of the previous two studies. That is, the legislative reforms introduced in 2002 have benefited the industry and the general economy.

KPMG Econtech is the company which prepares the economic forecast of construction activity for the Australian Construction Industry Forum. Over some 8 years now these forecasts of construction activity have proven to be very reliable and more accurate than many of the commercial forecasters.The KPMG study relies on three assessment areas to make its claim that the ABCC has improved commercial construction productivity.

First, it prepares year to year comparisons of construction activity productivity using a variety of sources to determine whether there has been a link between the time of industry reform and productivity performance in the construction industry.

Second, relying on data published by Rawlinson, an assessment is made of comparisons of the same task carried out in non housing construction when compared to housing construction. Industry reform has focused on non housing construction.

Third, comparisons were made of a sample of individual projects undertaken before and after the industry reform to see whether this industry reform has affected productivity at the individual project level.

The findings of the study show that on a measure of year to year comparison, the industry is 7.7% better off, non residential tasks compared to residential tasks is 9.1% better, and case studies suggest the improvement is 10%.

In summary all measures show the ABCC has made a major contribution to improving industry productivity.

The full report prepared for Master Builders Australia is available on the web address www.masterbuilders.com.au

AMCA STALWART RETIRESAMCA stalwart Neil Marshall, has officially retired from his construction and service company. On 20 January 2011 Neil Marshall completed the sale of Ellis Air Conditioning.

Neil has a long record of service to AMCA and the industry. Neil has served continuously on the AMCA Victorian Executive since 1978; was State President in 1983-1984 and National President in 1987-1989.

Over the years Neil has represented AMCA on many committees and external organisations. He has been President of the former BISCOA, Chairman of both CIESG and the Australian Construction Industry Forum.

Neil will be continuing his involvement with NEBB, and in 2012 will take up the position of International President.

AMCA wishes both Neil and his wife Sandra, a long and fruitful retirement.

ABCC AND INDUSTRY PRODUCTIVITY

At its annual general meeting, NEBB Australia elected Chris Wright from Tasmania as its new Chair.

Chris has been a NEBB Certified Professional since 1992.

He has served as the Australian representative to NEBB USA on a previous occasion.

Chris succeeds Neil Marshall who was the inaugural Chair of the Australian Chapter. The AGM noted with appreciation the contribition Neil has made by establishing the Australian Chapter and bringing it to maturity.

Neil Marshall will now be able to devote all of his attention to his work on the international board of NEBB as its President elect.

NEW NEBB AUSTRALIA CHAIR

EVENTS

When State What Where Contact

FEBRUARY

9 NAT National Council Meeting Canberra David Eynon

24 SA Strategic Planning Day Royal Adelaide Golf Club, Seaton Chris Rankin

MARCH

2 QLD Industry Breakfast Meeting“The Pavilion”, Allan Border Field, 1 Bogan Street, Breakfast Creek

Graham Mackrill

28 VIC Annual Golf Day Huntingdale Golf Course Anna Trevorah

APRIL

13 WA Annual Golf Day Wembley Golf Course Alan Layton

MAY

15-16 NAT Managing Finances Program

Hemisphere Conference CentreMoorabbin Victoria

Laura Steedman

21 NAT 50th Year Celebrations Grand Hyatt Hotel Melbourne David Eynon

24 - 27 NAT Service Leadership Fundamentals

Hemisphere Conference CentreMoorabbin Victoria

Martin Dennison (AMCA NSW)

AMCA VICPO BOX 309Burwood Victoria 3125

T: 03 8831 2800F: 03 9888 8459

E: vicamca@amca.com.au President: Russell Telford

AMCA NSWPO BOX 80Epping New South Wales 1710

T: 02 9869 3366F: 02 9869 3136

E: gwaters@amcansw.com.au President: Brian Mayo

AMCA QLDPO BOX 551Ashgrove Queensland 4060

T: 07 3112 0201F: 07 3510 2140

E: gmackrill@amcaqld.com.au President: Chris Deans

AMCA SAHilton Central 42 Sir Donald Bradman DriveMile End South Australia 5031

T: 08 8234 2899F: 08 8234 1615

E: crankin@amcasa.com.au President: Michael Barnes

AMCA WAPO BOX 4056Victoria Park WA 6979

T: 08 9362 5977F: 08 9470 2870

E: alan.layton@amcawa.com.au President: Ian B Ferguson

AMCA TASGPO BOX 922Hobart Tasmania 7001

T: 03 6231 9556F: 03 6236 9833

E: michael@michaelshepperd.com President: Chris Wright

www.amca.com.au