Protecting Queensland’s quarry resources needs to be a key part of infrastructure planning under the new State Government, according to peak industry group, Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA).
CCAA called on the Palaszczuk Government to deliver a long-term plan for accessing and protecting quarry resources from incompatible development.
“Labor’s commitment to well targeted and efficiently delivered infrastructure in its Building Queensland Policy is dependent on the planning, protection and approval of quarries and construction materials’ facilities,” said CCAA State Director, Aaron Johnstone.
Mr Johnstone said quarries, particularly in south-east Queensland, had been under increasing pressure in recent years from encroaching urban development and council approval delays.
“If this continues, it will become more and more difficult for these quarries to operate efficiently, which will impact on the cost of delivering concrete and other construction materials for the state.
“Each and every Queenslander requires at least 10 tonnes per annum of quarry material to support the building of the state’s roads, hospitals, houses and other infrastructure.
“Quarry materials are sourced from highly specific geological areas. The further away they are from end-use, the higher the cost. That’s why it’s critical that we protect our quarry resources and facilitate more timely approvals,” Mr Johnstone said.
CCAA has released its Policy Priorities statement, Providing the Materials to Build Queensland, which outlines challenges and recommended actions for the new government.
“With a population heading towards eight million by 2044, an uncertain economy and an environment where extreme weather events occur regularly, we need to plan for our future,” Mr Johnstone said.
“To ensure quarry materials are available now and into the future, the government should establish a ‘one-stop shop’, specifically charged with overseeing its plan for construction materials.”
Mr Johnstone said the industry also wanted to see stronger provisions within the State Planning Policy for protecting Key Resource Areas (KRAs), and for the state to be the main decision-maker for quarries – particularly major quarry projects – with local government a key stakeholder.
He said CCAA also wanted to see more robust systems to prevent incompatible development near concrete plants and cement facilities, and a continuing focus on reducing red and green tape.
“Successive governments in Queensland have put in place a number of important reforms which support our industry, such as the introduction of the Key Resource Areas policy in 2007, as well as more recent planning and vegetation reforms.
“However, much more needs to be done, and we want to work closely with the new government to help drive the changes to protect and access our resources for the benefit of all Queenslanders.”
The CCAA Policy Priorities 2015 document is available at the CCAA website