Victoria Moves to Unclog Construction Material Pipeline

Construction material costs and delivery woes may be relieved as the Victorian government sets up a new organisation and role to speed up quarry approvals.

Resources Victoria is tasked with creating reforms for better transparency, decision-making and ensuring the sustainable and responsible growth of the state’s resources industry.

A new Resources Victoria Approvals Co-ordination role is designed to reduce approval times for quarry applications, which will allow an increase in the supply of raw materials for projects, the government said. 

A trial of the role unlocked more than 40-million tonnes of extra quarry material—enough to fill the MCG 17 times.

Gross value of production for this material was estimated to be more than $900 million.

Quarry company Holcim used the trial to create site expansions and operating extensions including Holcim Warrnambool expanding its hard rock production area 

Output at the company’s quarry at Werribee was increased by expanding operating hours, helping to provide vital flood-recovery materials.

▲ An aerial view of Holcim’s quarry at Werribee, which was part of the Victorian government’s trial of a new Resources Victoria Approval Co-ordination role.

Holcim’s Oakland Junction quarry provides materials for several infrastructure projects, including Level Crossing Removal, the West Gate Tunnel Project and upgrades to Melbourne Airport’s runways. 

The government is also working on a new Minerals Resources (Sustainable Development) Bill to improve resources regulation and works approvals with $23.2 million set aside in the Victorian Budget 2023-24 for the reforms and quarry rehabilitation. 

“Our new regulations and approvals that will help deliver more rock, sand and gravel, while ensuring the right safeguards are in place to protect the environment and communities,” Victorian minister for energy and resources Lily D’Ambrosio said. 

Victoria hit a record for state-wide quarry production at more than 70 million tonnes in 2021-22. 

The state government, builders and developers have been struggling with material supplies, costs and delivery times for projects due to the effects of the pandemic and the supply-chain woes caused by the Ukranian war.