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14 June 2006 Showcase 2006QPA's fifth annual event showcases further steps towards a sustainable industry Now in its fifth year, the Quarry Products Association's annual Showcase event has again revealed progress by the quarrying industry in improving and understanding its footprint both socially and environmentally. Sustainable Development is at the heart of the industry's agenda, with yesterday's event at the Royal Lancaster Hotel the first to take place since the publication of the QPA's first Sustainable Development Report. The Showcase was hosted for the second year by BBC broadcaster Fiona Bruce, following her acclaimed appearance in 2005. With an audience formed from leading industry figures, MPs, senior civil servants; key regional highways officials, county planners and a myriad others, this year's turnout was the largest yet. The one hour ceremony featured video case studies capturing the essence of the effective work taking place across the industry. The short films covered topics such as product innovation, effective community relations, progress on health and safety and the push to increase recycling. The proceedings also featured a live interview with the QPA's Director General Simon van der Byl and Norman Baker MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Environmental Group. Now in its 36th year, the event concluded with the announcement of the QPA's annual Restoration Awards. Seven high-quality submissions were received by the association earlier in the year, all looking to secure the Cooper Heyman Cup; the industry's premier award for best practice in quarry restoration. The Judges were sincere in claiming 2006's crop to be the one of the finest examples yet of restoration following extraction. The Cooper Heyman Cup was this year presented to CEMEX UK Materials and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, who worked together on the Attenborough Nature Reserve near to the city of Nottingham. The reserve, a former sand and gravel quarry, has made huge strides forward in advancing its appeal to the public through an eco-friendly visitor centre, while enhancing the habitat and biodiversity of the area. Two awards of special merit were presented, to Hanson Aggregates UK for its work at Ripon Quarry in North Yorkshire and to CEMEX UK Materials for Powburn Quarry in Northumberland. The former restored quarry is now home to an ecologically diverse lake and successful fishery, with Powburn offering similarly high quality conservation waters and angling. Another former quarry was singled out to receive the Chairman's Trophy in 2006 thanks to its commitment to community involvement, one of the key tenants of the industry's approach to sustainable development. Brett Aggregates Ltd's Conningbrook Quarry site is now home to the Julie Rose Athletics Stadium, which offers high quality sporting facilities to local people and Olympic-standard training opportunities for athletes who travel from further afield. The company worked closely with Ashford Borough Council and the Julie Rose Stadium Trust in completing the unique project, which will come into its own as we approach the 2012 Olympics. Simon van der Byl, Director General of the Quarry Products Association, said: "this has been another terrific showcase of the industry's activity over the last year. With the release of our first sustainable development report earlier in the year, we have continued to pledge our intention to operate sustainably; today's event gave an insight to just what this means in the field with some truly innovative initiatives and admirable working practices. Special credit must go to CEMEX UK Materials and their partners at the Notts Wildlife Trust for earning the right to have their names on the Cooper Heyman Cup. The Attenborough Quarry site is not only a fantastic example of restoration, but also a special resource for the people living near the site. I encourage anyone to visit the centre and to witness for themselves the unique environments that can be created following quarrying. The reserve is a credit to the industry and this country's ecology. "
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Notes to editors
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