Innovation on show in CCAA National Awards

Quarry explosives that use rubber from recycled tyres and an innovative handrail system that makes working at heights on ISO tank containers much safer are among the winners of this year’s National CCAA Innovation Awards.

The 2018 award winners were announced at a gala dinner as part of the biennial Construction Materials Industry Conference (CMIC18), held recently in Sydney.

In addition to awards for Environmental and Health and Safety Innovation, this year saw a new category - Community Leadership, with the inaugural National Award going to Boral’s Tevan Quarry, on the far north coast of NSW.

Since 2013, Boral has been partnering with the Tintenbar Teven Community Aid Network (TinCAN) to fundraise and help deliver a bus trip program to reduce the risk of social isolation for elderly and disadvantaged residents.



The 2018 National Health and Safety Innovation Award went to Cockburn Cement at Munster, in WA, for an innovative ISO container handrail and platform system.

The system was introduced after Cockburn Cement swapped its bulk product rail fleet from pneumatic wagons to an all-ISO fleet. Loading of the new ISO containers requires the opening of additional hatches at height, and the handrail system keeps employees safe.



This year’s National Environmental Innovation Award went to Braeside Quarries in South East Queensland for the development, testing and implementation of a recycled rubber explosives process.

An environmentally friendly alternative to ANFO and emulsion explosives, the process substitutes diesel for recycled rubber tyres and is waterproof, safe, efficient and effective.



The National CCAA Innovation Awards are held every two years and are contested by the winning projects from each State over the preceding two years.

This year’s Awards also saw high commendations given in each category. Holcim’s Beenleigh Quarry in QLD was acknowledged in the Community Leadership category for a Cultural Day; Boral’s Logistics facility in Wacol, Queensland, in the Health and Safety Innovation category for the use of visual aids to improve tipper safety; and Boral’s Murray Bridge Quarry in SA in the Environmental Innovation category for a site solar electricity installation and water recycling initiative.



CCAA Chief Executive, Ken Slattery, says the Awards celebrate the industry’s continuous improvement across key business and operational areas.

“By highlighting these initiatives, we’re helping to set new industry benchmarks,” Mr Slattery says.

For more information: 
Nicole Kelly 
Market Development Coordinator
Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia 
P 02 9667 8311   
E [email protected]

The National CCAA Innovation Awards are held every two years and are contested by the winning projects from each State over the preceding two years. Below are videos compiling the nominees of each category.


2018 National CCAA Innovation Awards - Community Leadership Nominees




2018 National CCAA Innovation Awards - Environmental Innovation Nominees