CCAA is very encouraged by the Victorian Government recognising the critical need for quarry resource identification and protection, through the introduction of Strategic Extractive Resource Areas (SERAs) into South Gippsland and Wyndham local government areas.
The introduction of the SERAs will provide better support for the quarry sector that is playing a key role in the state’s post-COVID economic recovery effort. A very welcome advancement where demand for extractive resources in Victoria is expected to more than double 2015 levels by 2050.
These SERA pilot areas have been developed after extensive community consultation and help provide certainty for the community and industry by clearly identifying state significant quarry resources. These resources being close to appropriate transport routes and located in areas where a potential quarry will have limited impact on the environment and surrounding land uses.
The increased demand for quarry materials due to the Government’s Big Build infrastructure program and housing financial stimulus packages is driving depletion of existing resources and reinforces the critical need to replace depleted resources with new supply.
“CCAA’s advocacy over many years has been key to securing these planning reforms. They are a significant step forward in Victoria taking a strategic and long-term view around protection of critical sand and stone resources for our future.” said Brian Hauser, CCAA State Director VIC/TAS.
Although he added “Unfortunately, Government approvals for new or expanding quarries are slow, expensive and uncertain and significant reform of the process is required to replenish the resources we’re all using to meet the increasing demand”
“The construction sector, supported by a viable supply of quarry materials provides the engine for a construction led recovery to the COVID pandemic. These materials in ever stronger demand are the life blood’ of the recovery” he added.
CCAA looks forward to working closely with the government to ensure our industry can continue to safely employ people throughout Victoria to build the roads, hospitals, schools, and homes that we all need.
For more information on SERAs, download the Government’s fact sheet here: https://earthresources.vic.gov.au/data/assets/pdf_file/0004/699358/SERA-Fact-Sheet-Extractive-Industries.pdf