- Published:
- Wednesday 17 July 2024
The Allan Labor Government is boosting the state’s quarry production – to meet the growing demand for the new housing, infrastructure and renewable energy projects that Victoria needs.
The first new sand quarry close to Melbourne in more than 20 years has been approved. Estimated to hold more than 13 million tonnes of sand, the site at Lang Lang will help ensure supply keeps up with the demand of the Big Build and residential construction across Victoria – keeping material prices low.
The new quarry is expected to create 30 jobs directly with the potential for many more in related industries and throughout the community.
Lang Lang Sands is part of the Aurora Construction Materials group which produces recycled materials. Sand from the new quarry will supplement these materials to produce higher grade concrete.
Record infrastructure investment is driving demand for raw quarry materials, including sand which is a vital ingredient for concrete. Making more sand available reduces the likelihood of supply shortages in the years to come.
Quarry production in Victoria is growing year-on-year with a 14 per cent increase over three years, reaching an annual production record of 73.6 million tonnes of rock, sand and gravel.
For every one tonne of quarry material currently being produced, four new tonnes have now been approved for development to meet future demand and reduce prices.
Lang Lang Sands is part of the Aurora Construction Materials group, which produces recycled materials. Sand from the new quarry will supplement these materials to produce higher grade concrete. It’s one of the many ways that the quarrying industry is creating new uses for recycled materials to supplement quarried resources.
New supplies brought online in appropriate areas ensures we can provide the materials we need for a growing Victoria, while ensuring community and environmental impacts are kept to a minimum.
The Government has made the changes need to deliver record results for the quarry sector. Since it was established in 2023, the Resources Victoria Approvals Coordination (RVAC) unit has been crucial in helping bring future resources to market close to where they are needed.
With the support of RVAC, the Lang Lang site is the first quarry to obtain planning permission through the Government’s newly created Development Facilitation Program.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio
“We’re making sure Victoria’s booming quarry sector can keep delivering the raw materials needed to build the projects we need – from affordable housing to new hospitals and renewable energy projects.”
“Bringing high quality sand to market will deliver important benefits to our infrastructure builds and is crucial to keep prices for construction materials down.”