Boral cements port deal
Work to start on $130m clinker grinding plant
AT 65, today is a fresh start for hairdresser Sylvia Roe.
Do not use the word “institution” in her earshot, but after 45 years at her CBD salon looking after the hair of regulars, she is more than a friendly face.
“It’s like we are all a big family, that’s what it feels like,” Ms Roe said. “We have all got old together.”
When she started His Hair Care by Sylvia all those years ago, the Belcher Arcade in Moorabool St was sparkling new.
And Moorabool St was the place to shop.
“This particular shop you could see from the street,” she said. “It was fantastic.”
For a 22 or 23 year-old (she cannot recall precisely), it was a big move to have her own place.
“I thought I’d be here maybe five or six years, tops,” she said.
The last tenant at the rear of the cold arcade, Ms Roe has said many a farewell to a parade of A NEW 25-year agreement between GeelongPort and Boral Cement is paving the way for a $130 million clinker grinding and cement facility.
Construction will start soon on the grinding, storage and dispatch facility, which has been designed to handle up to 1.3 million tonnes of cementitious products a year.
It will be connected by a conveyor system to Lascelles Wharf, providing substantial businesses over the years.
“Since Westfield, I’ve had to rely on the regulars because there is certainly no passing trade; it’s really a bit sad,” she said.
Sometimes those regulars are the third generation of a family to have their hair done at Sylvia’s.
“I did the fathers when they were boys, and now they’ve grown and they have their own kids; it’s lovely,” Ms Roe said.
Now, her landlord is planning to redevelop and so she packed up her clippers and left last week.
But this grandmother of four is not ready give up hairdressing.
“I am not ready to retire,” she said. “I am going to continue cutting hair but I will be renting a chair.”
Today Ms Roe’s regulars can find her for a quick trim at Mango’s for Men in Corio St.
There is no hurry, chances are she will be there for a while. discharge and processing efficiencies.
GeelongPort CEO Brett Winter said the deal with Boral Cement, which had operated at the port for more than seven years, would support both enterprises and the broader community.
“Securing long-term sustainable solutions through visionary partnerships enhances our capacity to continue to drive the region’s economy,” Mr Winter said.
“GeelongPort is committed to building infrastructure to foster growth and prosperity for our city and the region.”
The construction reaffirms Boral’s presence and ongoing investment in the Geelong community.
Boral Cement executive general manager Ross Harper said the substantial investment would deliver a world-class operation, and reinforce the com- pany’s long-term commitment to the Victorian construction market.
“It will have the capacity and operational flexibility to provide our customers with secure supply of a broad range of products that supports their growth,” Mr Harper said.
Clinker is a product used in the production of cementitious products.
The new facility will allow Boral to increase its capacity to meet future Victorian infrastructure demand, and expand Boral’s product offering to its customers.
Wharfside works will incorporate ship unloading equipment, including wharfside hoppers and a conveying system linked directly to the facility.
Boral plans to operate the plant around the clock and the new grinding mill will allow Boral to reduce the cost and time of transporting its goods from its Waurn Ponds base, where it has made cement for more than 60 years.
The facility is expected to be operational in 2020.