Environmental Management of Boral Clay & Concrete Company, Australia

This report examines the environmental management practices of Boral Clay and Concrete Company, focusing on the balance between industrial operations and environmental sustainability in the context of Brisbane, Redland, Logan, and Gold Coast cities. It discusses the impacts of urbaniz...Read More

Running Head: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 1
Environmental Management: Boral clay and Concrete Company
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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
Environmental Management: Boral clay and Concrete Company
Introduction
With a rising trend in anthropogenic caused environmental effects, cooperative and
collective environmental management ought to be carried out thereby requiring the attention of
individuals, states, locals up to global engagement.
Understand the need for a 'balance' of community residential and industry
and the natural assets in Brisbane City, Redland City, Logan City and/or
Gold Coast City and surrounding regions. Become familiar with possible
environmental or health problems in Industry and how to manage the
environmental concerns/activities via the relevant Environmental Policy/Acts
and Regulations, QA, ERA's and EIA and consider local Indigenous concerns.
Consider human impacts on the environment from poorly managed industry
and the need for industry to comply with city requirements.
As it is widely accepted that industry is the backbone of human development. In order to
achieve greater sustainability, the role of industry and urbanization cannot be neglected.
Moreover, to achieve higher success in the collaboration of nature and industry, it is to be
understood that the economic and environmental sustainability is closely related. In addition to
this, it is also witnessed that an organization or economic system can obtain growth by being

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
focused on the environmental sustainability. With regard to the possible problems that can be
witnessed in public health and environment, it is seen that the growth of unplanned industry has
most of the influences. Lack of proper planning has often resulted into health problems, loss of
trees and biodiversity and many more. While speaking in the context of cities such as Brisbane,
Logan city, Gold coast and Redland city, it is seen that the governing bodies of these cities have
taken up proper actions and measurements in order to reduce environmental hazards. As
mandated by the EIA, the organizations are required to maintain the construction quality. The
industries are required to build constructions in an area that is desolated from the agricultural
field as well as residential area. The ERA guidelines follow the maintenance of organizational
activities so that they do not harm the surrounding environment.
Understand the impacts of urbanisation and expanding industry in Cities and
communities;
Industrialization and urbanization possess an enormous impact on the environment. This
is because pollution sources tend to rise with development of urban centers which in turn
contaminate the air, soil and water. The lack of city environmental planning and management
measures has set reasons for increasing expansions. Urbanization is an increase in the population
of individuals residing in towns and cities. It occurs mainly as a result of rural to urban migration
in turn increasing urban populations. This ultimately leads to significant social and economic
transformations in that changes in ways land is used are witnessed. In addition to that, the

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
population’s culture changes, school attendance improves, better health conditions are witnessed
together with reduced fertility and an elongated life expectancy. Nonetheless, the unplanned
rapid growth witnessed in urban areas result in poor infrastructural development. More than half
of the world’s population resides in urban areas and the unparalleled growth rates of the world’s
population and urban expansion result in stress on the environment’s quality. This thereby
triggers a necessity to proper elucidation of the factors that intercede the relationship between
urbanization and environmental quality (Ferdous et al, 2013).
Managing development and pollution
Tools and measures are adapted to evaluate and mitigate the potential impacts this
development has on the environment. For physical planning, Environmental impact assessment
plays a role in forecast and assessment of impacts on biodiversity. This is because land use,
urbanization and development destruct natural ecosystems in turn threatening biodiversity. EIA
as a legislative tool reduces any anthropogenic effect on the environment. It is therefore a
process through which data about the environmental impacts of a given project is collected from
variant sources and internalized followed by proper decision making prior to commencing a
project. This ensures that before it is fully decided to go ahead with a development, its
environmental impacts are assayed besides any economic and social benefits making it a
preventive, Participatory environmental management tool (Rezaei et al, 2012).

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
Frameworks/approaches and legislation, regulation and compliance and
pollution guidelines
As set by the Australian government, (2017) the authority over planning and
development has been bestowed to local governments and councils. This therefore caters for both
communal and industrial development in relation to land use and management. In their review of
the year 2017 Boral clearly insinuated that the authorities therefore ensures deployment of the
ecological sustainable development paradigm at the time of urban and communal development.
In such instances, the process at times becomes hectic with all-encompassing rules and
regulations set at the national level as well as some site specific ecological impacts that call for
special consideration. This makes the ERAs approval and regulation under EPA significant
because it encompasses vast factors to be considered. For the Queensland government, 2017 due
to devolution, Administration of authority is left to the local government that utilizes operation
inceptions to determine the various environmental risks in addition to identification of certain
environmental qualities of the site. In this case the Redland city Council Environmental Health
Regulation has to put into account outstanding sites of the city’s natural environment such as the
Petrie quarry which is a turbid water discharge.
According to O’conor, 2013, strict zoning schemes are witnessed in Redland city. This is
because of possible overlap between natural environments, industrial areas and the community
area. The zoning instructs conditional utilization of the land thereby giving room for urban

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
development while constantly protecting and advancing natural environments. The planning
scheme (RPS) adapts to the Queensland Sustainable planning act of 2009 with provisions that
enable the authorities to protect vital areas. In this city, expanses of land is effected by present
overlays that ensure that appropriate development is met in specific areas of interest or if it is for
environmental importance. The Overlays enable the local government to attain set environmental
goals. In a case of ERAs prescribed as above and are authorized by EHP the ability to land
government’s consultation proves to be very helpful. In addition, the Environmental protection
agency audit policy employs inducements to enable regulated businesses to willingly monitor
and correct violations of environmental regulations (Shahanas et al, 2011). When acting on the
violations before investigation by the authorities, industries therefore receive reductions or total
removal of fines depending on the impact created. However, non-ERA industries are always
subjected to acting within set standards, zoning and overlay requirements and set codes.
Review the land use maps/town planning zoning and overlays/mapping;
Field trip environmental activities
Boral Clay and Concrete is a multinational company that produces and supplies
construction materials. It is Australia’s second largest manufacturer of pavers and clay bricks in
addition to it being an exporter to New Zealand and Japan amid other Asian nations. The
company is made up of seven manufacturing sites located in eastern Australia.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
An experience for students to appreciate the need for a balance between
environment, economic, social, cultural and recreational interest’s in
communities
The processes of construction material production require environmental authorization as
per an ERA under EPA. However, Boral not being an ERA, its environmental regulation falls
under council zoning and overlays. The industry is therefore zoned as a rural manufacturing
industry. Under RPS, the rural zone code gives a range of rural uses, enable non rural uses that
do not affect the land on long term and protect vital natural resources. In addition, the company
is protected under the manufacturing protection overlay which in reference to RPS prevents any
development from affecting the industry’s operation. To achieve this, Boral has an effective
layout design, orientation and is located in places with minimal breezes that in turn do not
transport the gaseous carbon dioxide far (Holzhauer, 2008)). Despite zoning and overlay being
not explicit in protecting the surrounding environment, prevention of communal area
development and long-term land protection will positively impact the natural environment
around the company.
SWOT Analysis
Swot analyses for environmental management of Boral clay and Concrete company
Strengths
-Boral has set an Environmental management
plan as well as has a compliance officer as
Weaknesses
-Previous link to regulatory infringements
-Records of several breaches of air emission

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
measures to monitor environmental problems.
-The company embraces technological
changes thereby proactively invests in new
techniques
-Reduced environmental impacts since it was
fined
-well Established hazard prevention activities,
bunding techniques, water storage.
-Set waste treatment techniques before
disposal
- Goals targeting zero environmental
infringement
- established greenhouse
gas emissions reduction, efficient use of
energy, water conservation, waste
minimization
license conditions.
-Gas and dust emissions to the environment
-Large potential for environmental hazard
considering proximity to protected
habitats
-minimal access to information and limited
access to existing sources about
environmental issues.
- Lack of full monitoring from local
authorities
Opportunities
- There lies a potential for joint cooperation
initiatives to optimize efforts, reduce costs.
-Overlays enable environmental protection
from future development.
Threats
-Air pollution from gases and dust.
-Continued threat of climate variance and loss
of Crop as a result of acid rains

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
The defects in the regulations and planning
The organization is lacking in the field of managing and reducing the dust and gas
emission. Moreover, it has been subjected to environmental infringement many a times. In this
regard, the lack of governance from the local governing bodies can also be seen. In addition to
that, the company does not have proper information regarding the environmental issues and the
present guidelines.
Recommendation for the site:
In this regard, it can be said that the site should be more careful regarding the
environmental issues and the regulations. The company should create an overlay to protect the
surrounding environment. Proper and technologically advanced machineries should be
implemented in order to reduce the emission of dust and gas from the construction sites.
References
Australian Government. (2017).Department of Environment and Energy, Legislation. From:
http://www.environment.gov.au/aboutZus/legislation

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
Boral Review.(2017)). Environmental, Compliance & Performance. From:
https://www.boral.com/sites/corporate/files/media/field_document/Boral%20Review
%202017%20-%20Environmental.pdf
Queensland Government (2017).Compliance and Enforcement,"Department of Environment And
Heritage Protection. From:
https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/management/planningZguidelines/enforcement.html
Deepasree M Vijay, Poornima A Menon nd Fathima Shahanas. (2011). Environmental
management in business organization: Environmental pollution from brick making
operations and their effect on workers. From:
https://businessimpactenvironment.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/environmental-pollution-
from-brick-making-operations-and-their-effect-on-workers/
Mohammad Ghasemian, Parinaz Poursafa, Mohammad Mehdi Amin, Mohammad Ziarati,
Hamid Ghoddousi, Seyyed Alireza Momeni, and Amir Hossein Rezaei. (2012).
Environmental Impact Assessment of the Industrial Estate Development Plan with the
Geographical Information System and Matrix Methods. From:
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/407162/
Ron Holzhauer. (2008). Boral opens country's largest brick manufacturing facility. From:
https://www.concreteconstruction.net/business/management/boral-opens-countrys-
largest-brick-manufacturing-facility_o
Steve O’Conor (2013). From: Getting the balance right: our natural assets
https://www.planning.org.au/documents/item/4877

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BORAL CLAY AND CONCRETE COMPANY
Suman Kumar Pariyar, Tapash Das and Tanima Ferdous. (2013). Environment And Health
Impact For Brick Kilns In Kathmandu Valley. From:
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.307.3065&rep=rep1&type=pdf