Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) has today released its 2025 Tasmanian Election Policy Priorities, to safeguard the sustainable supply of materials essential for Tasmania’s growth.
As the voice of the heavy construction materials industry in Australia, CCAA advocates on behalf of a $15 billion national industry that supports the employment of 110,000 Australians. The sector is critical to the delivery of infrastructure, renewable energy, housing, and economic development across Tasmania, which recorded $4.49 billion in construction activity in 2024.
“Tasmania is on the cusp of a significant infrastructure, housing and renewable energy buildout, and the heavy construction materials sector must be equipped to meet the challenge,” said Michael Kilgariff, CEO of CCAA.
“Without timely reform and coordinated planning, the sector risks being hamstrung by avoidable constraints, jeopardising the affordability and timely delivery of projects essential to Tasmania’s economic future.”
The 2025 Tasmanian Election Policy Priorities highlights growing risks to an efficient local supply chain, including:
- Lengthy and complex development approvals across EPA, Mineral Resources Tasmania (MRT), and local councils.
- A projected 1 million tonne shortfall in hard rock production within 3 years due to delays in quarry approvals.
- A depletion of concrete sand supply in South East Tasmania, likely to cause cost spikes in future projects.
- Urban encroachment threatening key quarry and concrete batching sites.
- Standards and specifications that limit the adoption of lower carbon materials.
To address these risks, CCAA is calling on the incoming Government to develop a Heavy Construction Materials Plan which should:
- Appoint a Quarry Approvals Coordinator to resolve approval roadblocks.
- Streamline environmental and approval processes for sand and hard rock resources.
- Establish planning protections for strategic extractive resources and concrete batching operations.
- Align State and Federal climate goals and supports performance-based material specifications.
- Encourage public procurement models that incentivise the use of lower carbon materials, including supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag.
- Support initiatives aimed at achieving net zero concrete by 2050.
“The evidence is clear: without a secure and efficient local materials supply chain, Tasmania faces rising construction costs, delayed infrastructure delivery, and fewer affordable homes. Mr Kilgariff said.
“The right reforms will not only unlock supply, but also support decarbonisation, reduce project costs, and drive local employment and investment.”
“CCAA looks forward to engaging with all political parties and stakeholders to help shape a resilient and sustainable construction sector that supports Tasmania’s economy, communities, and climate commitments.”