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Welcome to the newsletter. I look forward to seeing these updates in my inbox to read about the hard work of the industry and what it’s achieved.
I was really pleased to update my Parliamentary colleagues recently on the record annual production of quarry materials. I want to congratulate every one of you for your hard work and diligence in what we all know has been a challenging year.
A combined production total for Victoria of over sixty-three million tonnes of sand, rock and gravel last financial year is a great achievement – not to mention state-wide production has now grown by twenty-five per cent over the last six years.
I’m proud that the impact of this Government’s record infrastructure agenda is creating unprecedented demand – and this industry is delivering.
But we know challenges remain – continued supply of quarry materials will be vital to support this massive investment.
We’ll continue streamlining the approval of new and expanded quarries to help meet demand. Of course, we’ll balance this with the needs of local communities and the environment as we plan our state’s growth.
Quarries play an important role in economic growth across Victoria and delivering the materials for our communities to develop and thrive.
Together, we’re building something special - creating local jobs, expanding the supply chain and delivering the benefits of our Big Build.
Jaclyn Symes MP
Minister for Resources
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Securing extractive resources in the planning system
We need to plan ahead now, to ensure that quarry materials can continue to be sourced close to where they will be used, so we can affordably build homes and infrastructure.
That is why the Helping Victoria Grow: Extractive Resources Strategy includes key actions to update mapping and planning provisions to better define areas with potential for quarrying and secure them in the planning system. Learn more about these initiatives here.
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Recycling extractive resources in the construction sector
Supporting industry to be recognised as leaders in environmental sustainability is a key action in the Helping Victoria Grow: Extractive Resources Strategy, and an important part of this is to promote the use of recycled materials. Our action plan to support industry in the reuse and recycling of construction and demolition materials is now available online. Find out more about it here.
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Quarrying vital to Victoria's economic growth
Last financial year, more than 63 million tonnes of sand, stone and gravel was produced in Victoria to support the state's infrastructure and construction acitivity.
Earth Resources Regulation's Annual Statistical Report for 2019-20 shows an increase in sale value of quarry materials of 3.7 per cent on the previous year, to more and $1.06 billion.
You can click here to find out more.
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Getting the Groundwork Right - Closure Report
The implementation of the recommendations from the Getting the Groundwork Right: Better Regulation of Mines and Quarries report is now complete. The program continues to improve the regulation of quarries across Victoria.
The closure report for the program is now available, which addresses the actions and recommendations that the Commissioner for Better Regulation outlined in Getting the Groundwork Right. You can read the closure report here.
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Extractive Industry Priority Project List Update
The Extractive Industry Priority Project List identifies quarry expansion projects that will be given priority planning consideration with the goal of halving current approval times from 18 months to 9 months.
So far, 10 Priority listed quarry expansions that require planning approval have been approved and there 12 in the pipeline.
Click here to find out more about the Priority List.
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Victorian Government Infrastructure Announcements
The 2020 budget included $19.6 billion of investment in the infrastructure we need to drive the economic recovery from the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, and our extractives sector is vital to every project. The Victorian Government is spending nearly $80 billion over the next four years on capital works, including:
This contributes to more than $80 billion invested in Victoria's Big Build.
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