Michael Kilgariff is the new CCAA chief executive. Image: CCAA
A leading advocacy group for the aggregate sector, Cement, Concrete & Aggregate Australia (CCAA), has backed the recent Victorian budget, which offers “sustained support” for the industry.
The Victorian Government, through Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas, handed down the 2024-25 state budget earlier this week.
Among other announcements, the state government committed $44.8 million over four years to supporting Resources Victoria. The funding will help Resources Victoria deliver an approvals coordination function for the aggregate industry.
Cement, Concrete & Aggregate Australia chief executive officer Michael Kilgariff said the organisation welcomed the state government’s commitment.
“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,” he 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 risk-based regulatory framework for the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act and the completion of lapsing program work such as the next six Strategic Extractive Resources Areas (SERAs).”
Victorian Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio visited Boral’s Montrose Quarry. Image: CCAA
Recently, the CCAA and Boral welcomed Victorian Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to Montrose Quarry. Resources Victoria Approvals Coordination unit helped extend the site’s Work Authority via a now streamlined process, boosting available resources by seven million tonnes.
Boral’s Montrose operations, which include a historic rock quarry, an asphalt production facility and a concrete batching plant, is one of the largest quarries in Victoria and is a significant supplier of construction raw materials to Big Build projects, including the North East Link and the Lilydale Line Upgrade.
“Our Montrose Quarry has provided the foundations for development and growth across the greater Melbourne area for decades, with its materials enabling many of Melbourne’s iconic buildings and infrastructure,” Matthew Mckenzie, Executive General Manager, Boral Concrete and Quarries South said at the time.
“We welcome the Government’s support to enable our Montrose operations to continue to play a critical role in building Melbourne.”
According to reports, the budget shows 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.
Kilgariff said this was a sign that hard construction materials and aggregates would remain an important industry to support both now and in the future.
“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,” he said.
“The budget has maintained the infrastructure program with a strong and sustainable pipeline of work and jobs.
“This creates a compelling reason to support a more efficient supply chain of heavy construction materials.”
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