Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) has released its Queensland Election Policy Priorities, urging the incoming Queensland Government to develop a comprehensive Heavy Construction Materials Plan.
CCAA is the voice of the heavy construction materials industry in Australia, an industry that generates approximately $15 billion in annual revenues and contributes to the employment of 110,000 Australians. CCAA members produce the majority of Australia’s cement, concrete, and aggregates, which are crucial to Australia’s building and construction sectors.
“As Queensland prepares for an unprecedented number of infrastructure projects, including those related to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, the heavy construction materials industry will play a critical role in ensuring the sustainable and cost-effective delivery of these projects”, said Michael Kilgariff, CEO of CCAA.
“Oxford Economics forecasts that direct investment for the Brisbane Olympics will exceed $10 billion, with intense competition for resources expected. They have warned that this could lead to resource reallocation, impacting supply capacity and potentially driving cost escalation.
“CCAA is calling for urgent supply and regulatory reforms to support the industry and enable the more sustainable and efficient delivery of construction materials.
“This will require the development of a comprehensive Heavy Construction Materials Plan covering cement, concrete and aggregates. These materials are all vital to meeting Queensland’s ambitious project pipeline across transport, energy, water, housing, defence, and social infrastructure sectors.
“Queensland’s future infrastructure pipeline, driven by projects like the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, will require an unprecedented amount of construction materials.
“These materials account for an average of 29% of project costs.
“It is essential that the incoming Queensland Government leads the necessary reforms to increase supply, ensure affordability, and avoid potential bottlenecks that could delay critical projects.
“The CCAA Queensland Election Policy Priorities emphasise the indispensable role of heavy construction materials in supporting the state’s infrastructure and economic growth.
“The Priorities also highlight the importance of decarbonisation and urge the incoming Government to commit to a Heavy Construction Materials Plan that aligns with our collective decarbonisation goals.
“Ensuring a sustainable construction industry requires public procurement practices that reflect government policies on reducing emissions. Prioritising this alignment is vital to enabling the collaborative efforts necessary to achieve our collective net-zero goal.
“CCAA looks forward to engaging with policymakers and stakeholders to discuss these priorities and working collaboratively to secure Queensland’s infrastructure future.