July 2011

QPANI AND CES QUARRY PRODUCTS AWARDS TOP

ENVIRONMENTAL ESSAY WRITING STUDENTS

In contrast to the warm sunny afternoon on their graduation day this week, it was a bitter winter day back in December when the Queen’s University Students had visited Castlenaven Quarry as part of their final year teaching on ‘Policies for Environmental Sustainability’ from the Land Use and Environmental Management, Geography and Agricultural Technology degree courses.  

Laverne Bell (QPANI) had given them a lecture on the Northern Ireland quarrying industry prior to the study visit to Castlenavan Quarry outside Ballynahinch belonging to CES Quarry Products Ltd.  Irwin Armstrong (H&S, Environment and Quality Manager) gave them an informative tour of the quarry looking at the management of environmental impacts and compliance with legislation.

After the site visit, the students had to write an essay of minimum 2,000 and maximum 3,000 words on this topic: "to what extent quarrying activities, like Castlenavan Quarry, are affected by environmental policies?”

On Monday (4th July 2011) QPANI and CES Quarry Products Ltd provided prizes for the top three essay writing students and awarded them at their Prize Day event hosted by Prof. Christine Maggs (Head of School of Biological Sciences) ahead of their graduation ceremony.

QPANI and CES Quarry Products Ltd with Queen’s Students at their Prize Day event.

L-R: Irwin Armstrong (CES), Justine McIntyre, Heather Hall, Connor McGimpsey and Laverne Bell (QPANI).

Each of the top three essay writing students presented excellent work, well structured with good referencing. Their essay’s demonstrated understanding of the quarrying industry, the environmental polices associated with the industry and discussed ways forward.  

QPANI and CES Quarry Products were delighted to award the students, congratulated them on their graduation and wish them every success in their future endeavours.

ENDS

Notes for Editor

The Quarry Products Association NI represents approximately 95% of companies involved in the supply of quarry products to the Construction Industry in Northern Ireland. Our Association draws its membership from companies engaged in providing primary aggregates, the processing of recycled and secondary materials, the production of downstream products such as asphalt, lime mortar, ready-mixed concrete, precast concrete and road surfacing contracting. The Quarry Products Sector now employs over 3500 people across Northern Ireland and has a turnover of some £500 million.

For further information please contact Gordon Best, Regional Director, Quarry Products Association, Nutts Corner Business Park, Crumlin BT29 4SR Tel 02890824078 Fax 028 90825103 email info@qpani  mobile 07876 136929