From the Secretariat
Opportunities for the Industry 2024
DR ELIZABETH GIBSON, CMPA General Manager.
Resources Victoria new CEO
The new CEO of Resources Victoria is Matt Vincent formerly from Planning (Department of Transport and Planning). A number of meetings have been held including with the CMPA Management Committee in December in Melbourne. Currently a strategy for Resources Victoria has been developed and is with the Minister for Energy and Resources. The CEO has requested that ERR call all proponents that are listed as needing to provide further information as to whether they were going to continue to proceed with their work plan applications due to some remaining in the system for many years. This is part of an information gathering exercise for an accelerated program of clearing the back log in 4 months.
Rehabilitation bonds
The total sum for work authority rehabilitation bonds has increased by approximately 11% in the last 12 months. Earth Resources Regulation is in the process of revisiting rehabilitation bonds leading to massive increases (1000% and higher) for work plan variations (with the few that are approved each year). This leads to a disproportionate competitive advantage for those (85%) that have not had their bonds reviewed. Resources Victoria is currently considering the recommendations from the CMPA Rehabilitation Report 2022. The CMPA is working with ERR to provide training to quarry operators in progressive rehabilitation.
Replenishment of supply
For work plan approvals 2022/23 looked to be a good year, however, with data being accessed from Earth Resources Regulation’s GeoVIC showing 10 approvals (to serve as replenishment for the 2022/23 supply of 72 million tonnes). There were no significant hard rock or sand assets approved. Clearly, the current low rate of replenishment of supply of construction materials is unsustainable. There may be an opportunity here for the Minister for Planning to become the responsible authority for extractive industry land use (in the same manner that Renewable Energy Facilities are). However, several work plan applications have been called in by the Planning Minister, been through planning panel hearings, had the report submitted but have been left in abeyance for a decision for more than a year.
MRSDA reform
The Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (MRSDA) reform is to go ahead. There are two very significant changes being proposed:
• Introduction of a “duty model”
• Removal of the requirement for a work plan but still requiring a Planning Permit from the relevant local government authority (LGA) The CMPA did not support the proposed MRSDA reform (see previous articles in Sand & Stone) but will work with Government to achieve the best possible outcome for industry.
Looking forward to working with you in 2024.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login