New extractive industry policy targets land use conflicts
Tasmania’s new Planning Policies add quarry protection through a dedicated Extractive Industry policy that will identify and protect strategic resource areas, prevent incompatible development near existing quarries and safeguard supporting infrastructure.
The new policy also supports the long-term viability of quarry operations and the supply of essential construction materials across Tasmania.
Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia welcomed the changes on the grounds that locally sourced materials are needed for homes, hospitals, schools, roads and renewable energy projects.
According to CCAA, the cement, concrete and aggregates industry contributes more than $338 million to Tasmania’s Gross State Product and supports 1,652 jobs.
CCAA chief executive Michael Kilgariff said, “The cement, concrete and aggregates industry contributes more than $338 million to Tasmania’s Gross State Product and supports 1,652 jobs, while supplying the materials needed to build homes, hospitals, schools, roads, renewable energy projects and other essential infrastructure.”
Kilgariff tied the policy direction to Tasmania’s housing, infrastructure and renewable energy goals and argued that planning controls must protect access to key quarry resources.
CCAA is also calling for a Tasmanian Heavy Construction Materials Plan to sit alongside the new Planning Policies.
That plan would identify future resource demand, protect significant quarry resources and streamline planning and approval pathways.
CCAA also wants planning to protect infrastructure that keeps materials moving from quarries to major building and infrastructure projects.
Sand supply in southeast Tasmania
A key concern is sand supply in southeast Tasmania, where recent shortages have sharpened the case for long-term resource planning.
Kilgariff said, “Construction materials can only be sourced where the resource exists. Once a strategically important quarry resource is lost to incompatible development, it cannot simply be relocated.”
CCAA argues that risk makes long-term land use planning protections critical, especially for resources needed for future population growth and major works.
The organisation also welcomed the creation of Building Tasmania and the inclusion of Mineral Resources Tasmania within the new Economic Development function.
Those reforms place Building Tasmania and Mineral Resources Tasmania within the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Economic Development function.
CCAA views the changes as a chance to strengthen long-term planning for Tasmania’s resources sector.
The Extractive Industry policy gives formal planning recognition to strategic quarry resources, existing operations and the infrastructure needed to keep cement, concrete and aggregates flowing.
