Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) has launched Foundations for Australia’s Future, a new national campaign highlighting the essential role of cement, concrete and aggregates in delivering Australia’s housing, infrastructure and clean energy ambitions.
The campaign is underpinned by independent analysis from Oxford Economics Australia, which found the industry contributes $20.7 billion to Australia’s GDP and supports 112,970 jobs.
The research comes as Australia faces a $242 billion major public infrastructure pipeline, alongside significant housing demand and continued investment in renewable energy infrastructure.
CCAA Chief Executive Officer Michael Kilgariff said the campaign would highlight the connection between Australia’s construction ambitions and the materials required to deliver them.
“Australia has set ambitious targets for new homes, major infrastructure and the clean energy transition, but none of these can be delivered without secure access to cement, concrete and aggregates,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“Every new home, road, bridge, rail line, hospital, school and renewable energy project relies on the materials our industry supplies.
“The economic contribution identified by Oxford Economics Australia is significant, but the broader story is what this industry enables across the Australian economy.”
More than 30 million cubic metres of premixed concrete is produced in Australia each year – enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground more than 19 times.
Mr Kilgariff said meeting future demand would require construction materials to be considered earlier in planning and infrastructure decisions.
“Supplying these materials depends on infrastructure and resources that take years to establish. Quarries must be located where suitable resources exist, while concrete batching plants need to be close to the communities and projects they supply.
“That means protecting strategically important resources and industrial land, improving approval processes, maintaining efficient freight networks and supporting investment and innovation.
“Foundations for Australia’s Future will put these issues at the centre of the national conversation and demonstrate the connection between secure construction materials supply and the projects Australians expect to see delivered.”
Over the next 12 months, the campaign will showcase the role of cement, concrete and aggregates across housing, infrastructure, transport and energy, decarbonisation, resource security, productivity, innovation and workforce development.
“Australia can only build at the pace its material supply chains allow. Securing the materials needed to build our future must be part of the conversation from the very beginning,” Mr Kilgariff said.