- Published:
- Saturday 21 April 2018
The Andrews Labor Government is working to keep the cost of raw materials down as it rolls out the strongest infrastructure pipeline in Victoria’s history.
The Victorian Budget 2018/19 includes $12.7 million for the Earth Resources Regulator (ERR) to ensure access to the rock, gravel, sand and other resources required to build the projects our state needs.
Working through the Regulator, the funding boost will simplify regulatory procedures and provide for an upgraded online application system to make it easier and quicker for us to extract raw materials.
It will also identify the best areas for raw materials, with a new geotechnical engineer, risk specialist, and community engagement officers to work with local communities and local governments.
More than 30 per cent of the cost of any major project is raw materials. If that cost goes up, it puts significant pressure on a project’s bottom line.
This investment will help ensure that we can keep accessing the raw materials we need to keep building our state.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer and Minister for Resources Tim Pallas
“Our record investment in infrastructure is creating jobs – but also demand for raw materials. It means we need a ready supply of resources as Victoria grows.”
“Doing nothing is not an option – we need to continue our progress, rolling out the biggest infrastructure pipeline in our state’s history.”
“This investment will help keep the cost of raw materials down, as we build Victoria and grow Victorian jobs.”