Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA) congratulates the Hon Jaala Pulford on her appointment as Victorian Minister for Resources.
With her experience in the roads and regional development portfolios and as Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister Pulford’s role is well placed to further support the construction led recovery of the state out of the pandemic – rebuilding Victoria, protecting lives, and creating jobs.
With a record demand for sand and stone in 2019-20 of over 63 million tonnes, quarry production has grown by 25 per cent over the last six years to help deliver new homes, hospitals, schools, roads, and critical infrastructure.
The state’s recovery from the pandemic and growth beyond, is now more than ever reliant on the sustainable supply of heavy construction materials, where demand for extractive resources in Victoria is expected to more than double 2015 levels by 2050. However, Victoria is not replenishing these critical sand and stone resources as the industry struggles to protect existing resources and gain approval for new ones. Victoria is at a critical ‘tipping point’ regarding securing resources to build our recovery and we look forward to working with Minister Pulford to ensure competitive policy settings and efficient approvals processes are in place to rapidly replenish resources.
CCAA would also like to acknowledge the strong advocacy by Minister Symes for the extractive resources industry and her recent delivery of the Strategic Extractive Resource Area pilots in Wyndham and South Gippsland to safeguard Victoria’s resources for the future. Minister Symes consistently championed the sector as the ‘rock-stars of the recovery’ and we thank her for her leadership during the challenging days of the pandemic to advocate the safety and health credentials of the sector.
The construction sector, supported by a reliable supply of materials, have played a critical role supporting the economy and jobs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns. CCAA looks forward to working with Minister Pulford and the Victorian Government to ensure a well-regulated, responsible, and sustainable industry, founded on community support, can rapidly replenish resources to continue to support the recovery, grow the economy and create jobs.