The centre at Kellogg Road, Rooty Hill, in Sydney?s west, will be a receiving, blending and distribution centre for construction materials with a rail siding where materials from quarries will be unloaded by trains.
A covered conveyor will transport the materials from the trains onto the site and enclosed storage bins.
Holcim will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with officials from the Burbaga Aboriginal Corporation at the distribution centre?s new Rooty Hill site on 14 November.
The company’s predecessor Readymix originally proposed the blending and distribution centre in 2006 but the proposed project was delayed due to action in the New South Wales Land and Environment Court. Holcim purchased Readymix in 2009 and, following some modifications to Readymix’s original plan, the blending and distribution centre finally won approval from the NSW Department of Planning in 2011. The company has since finalised negotiations with the Burbaga Aboriginal Corporation which represents Darug interests in the land adjoining the Nurragingy Reserve.
A Holcim spokesperson said the new distribution centre will ?provide a base to explore future commercial arrangements, including support with land rehabilitation and other general employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in the region?.
Burbaga secretary Sandra Lee said that aside from the creation of 200 jobs during construction and 100 more when the centre is commissioned, the corporation would receive funding to regenerate the buffer area to turn it into a park with facilities for a bush tucker garden and an educational centre.
Promising third quarter results
Work on the new Rooty Hill Centre came after Holcim released its third quarter results and posted an increase in net income and cash flow from operating activities.
This success was based primarily on positive earnings performance in the regions of Europe, North and Latin America with weaker operating results in India, Mexico, Brazil and Canada.
Sales volumes for the group were down in all three segments in the first nine months, with the greatest declines occurring in ready-mix concrete.
These developments are partly attributable to the lower demand for building materials in some markets but are also driven by the targeted restructuring measures introduced to improve margins, for example in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Operating results for Europe, North and Latin America exceeded those for 2012. Holcim does not expect to reach the previous year’s sales volumes of cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete in 2013.
In the Asia-Pacific region, cement sales are expected to reach similar levels to the previous year.
Sources: Blacktown Sun, 4-Traders