With just two and a half months until the Victorian State Election, Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) is calling on all political parties to commit to a competitive heavy construction materials industry capable of supplying the homes and infrastructure Victoria needs.
Since releasing its 2026 Victorian Election Policy Priorities earlier this year, CCAA has been strongly engaging with MPs, Ministers, shadow Ministers and political staff from across the political spectrum to highlight the importance of secure, affordable and competitive local construction materials supply.
This engagement has included calls to address excessive regulatory fees and costs, allow more time to properly implement reforms to the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act, accelerate industry-informed Strategic Extractive Resource Areas (SERAs), improve the timeliness, cost and consistency of Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs), avoid duplication between State and Commonwealth environmental assessments, and improve planning and regulatory approval timeframes.
Victoria’s cement, concrete and aggregates industry contributes approximately $3.17 billion to the State economy and supports more than 15,600 jobs.
CCAA Chief Executive Officer Michael Kilgariff said the policy settings of the next Victorian Government would have a direct bearing on the cost and availability of the materials needed to keep Victoria building.
“Victoria cannot deliver more homes, better roads and the infrastructure needed for a growing population without a competitive local heavy construction materials industry,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“Cement, concrete and aggregates are fundamental to almost everything Victoria wants to build. Keeping their local production competitive must be treated as an economic and infrastructure priority.”
At the centre of CCAA’s election priorities is a call for a comprehensive Victorian Heavy Construction Materials Plan, providing a long-term framework to secure local materials supply, support investment and ensure the industry remains competitive as Victoria’s construction needs grow.
“The substantial increases to quarry regulatory fees are one example of the growing cost and regulatory pressures facing local producers,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“Victoria needs to attract investment into new and expanded local materials supply, not make that investment harder.
“Every additional cost, delay or barrier ultimately risks flowing through to the homes and infrastructure Victorians need.
“With significant housing and infrastructure demands ahead, this is not the time to take the competitiveness of our local construction materials industry for granted.
“The next Victorian Government has an opportunity to provide the certainty industry needs to invest for the future and ensure Victoria has secure access to the materials required for its growth.
“Affordable housing and infrastructure start with affordable, secure and competitive local materials supply.”