Releasing supply of critical sand and hard rock close to market is a pathway to reducing the cost pressures on Victoria’s housing and infrastructure commitments, said Michael Kilgariff, CEO of Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia.
Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia is the peak body for the heavy construction materials industry in Australia. The heavy construction materials Industry is vital to the Victorian Big Build and the building and construction industries.
“CCAA was pleased to see our advocacy work rewarded in today’s Victorian Budget with sustained support for the new Resources Victoria team and the approvals coordination function championed by CCAA in the last term of government”, Mr Kilgariff said.
“This is critical to ensure approval of market-ready sand and hard rock is accelerated and decisions streamlined for earth resources developments.
“An additional $44.8 million over 4 years has been allocated to enable Resources Victoria to operate on a more sustainable basis and deliver critical work CCAA has championed, such as an outcomes and riskbased regulatory framework for the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act and the completion of lapsing program work such as the next 6 Strategic Extractive Resources Areas (SERAs).
“These were all key requests that CCAA made to the government prior to the 2022 election and have been honoured by the Allan Government”, said Mr Kilgariff.
‘Helping families’ is the focus of the 2024/25 Victorian Budget, however with debt growing to 25.2% of GSP by 2026-27, this makes it increasingly challenging to continue to grow the economy, increase jobs and undertake the pipeline of housing, infrastructure and renewables that Victoria will need as population grows.
“Despite dire warnings of significant infrastructure funding cuts, the budget continues to support supply chain demand by industry and delivers on CCAA advocacy to strengthen the approvals coordination function, deliver the MRSD Act reforms and maintain pressure on a more efficient regulatory environment.
“The budget has maintained the infrastructure program with a strong and sustainable pipeline of work and jobs.
“Capital expenditure has reached $24 billion for the 2023-24 financial year and will average $19.3 billion per year over the budget and forward estimates. This creates a compelling reason to support a more efficient supply chain of heavy construction materials.