- Published:
- Thursday 20 May 2021
Victoria’s minerals, quarry and gas sectors will be supported to keep the Andrews Labor Government’s record infrastructure agenda booming with essential materials for housing, hospitals and schools around the state.
The Victorian Budget 2021/22 is providing $35.7 million to ensure our minerals, quarry and gas sectors continue to grow and meet the demand that everyday Victorians rely on.
This investment will also back more than 7,000 Victorians employed in the sector’s growing workforces, as well as the thousands of jobs the sector supports in construction.
The Labor Government’s unprecedented infrastructure investment is dependent on local rock, sand and gravel, which is driving demand for regulatory approvals and industry support to ensure a pipeline of new and expanding quarries.
Funding of $10.6 million will help Earth Resources Regulation – Victoria’s earth resource regulator – deliver timely regulatory approvals and improve key processes for industry and businesses.
A further $6.9 million will deliver work to ensure new quarries can be developed where resources are needed while ensuring land around them is not compromised, providing transparency for communities and protecting the surrounding environment.
Expert geoscience, supported by the Labor Government, has underpinned the growth in gold production and minerals exploration. The Geological Survey of Victoria will be further supported with $13.4 million to continue attracting new investment as the demand for minerals from the technology and renewable energy industries grows.
New funding of $2.4 million will enable further legislative and regulatory improvements across the resources sector to reinforce rehabilitation and environmental safeguards, support greater community engagement and continue efficient processing of industry applications.
The resources sector is experiencing rapid growth as a result of the Labor Government’s record infrastructure investment – with a total of $144 billion projects either commencing with this Budget or already underway supporting more than 170,000 jobs since 2014.
This investment is continuing to deliver important road and rail projects, new and upgraded schools and hospitals and our Big Housing Build.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Resources Jaclyn Symes
“The resources sector is a crucial part of our economic recovery – we want to ensure quarries can continue to provide the building blocks of our infrastructure program and create more jobs.”
“We’re making sure that efficient and responsible regulation of the sector goes hand in hand with the development of future sites – including the local community in decision‑making and leaving a positive legacy.”