Minister for Energy and Resources

MEETING with Minister The Hon Lily D’Ambrosio.

THREE CMPA representatives met with the Minister for Energy and Resources, The Hon Lily D’Ambrosio, to discuss items of note particular to the construction material industry.

Garry Cranny (Chairperson), Ron Kerr (Hon CEO) and Dr Elizabeth Gibson (General Manager) were delighted to meet with the Minister for Energy and Resources, The Hon Lily D’Ambrosio and her advisor Sara Williams on Wednesday 18 February 2015. It was stated by the CMPA representatives that CMPA supports responsible, balanced legislation and community engagement that is in the best interests of the State at the commencement of the meeting.

The CMPA representatives informed the Minister, of the constraints currently facing the construction materials industry, of particular note is the Native Vegetation Framework and Aboriginal Heritage legislation. Additionally, the construction material industry is drawn into regulation meant for the much higher and different risk profile of mines or coal seam gas that have attracted much negative community sentiment in recent years. These unnecessary constraints will impact on growth in Victoria through spiraling costs attributable to scarcity of accessible, affordable construction materials. A range of issues relevant to the construction material industry were raised with the Minister:

• Sequence for the Work Plan Approval ProcessThe CMPA believes that planning approval (i.e. issue of a preliminary Planning Permit), subject to the project obtaining a DEDJTR endorsed Work Plan, to be preferable: determine whether the proposed Extractive Industries use is permitted on the land, prior to embarking on a costly Work Plan endorsement.
• Proposed risk based Work Plan formThere are several issues with the current proposed draft risk based Work Plan. In its current format it is far too complex for smaller sites (although larger than those sites covered by the Code of Practice for Small Quarries) and does not yet meet the “draft Guiding Principles for Reformed Work Plan”, DEDJTR.
• Extractive Sector Rehabilitation BondsBond reviews using the Bond Formula can lead to increases of over 1000% despite the extractive industry (not mines) having a low risk profile and an extraordinarily good site rehabilitation record.
• Aboriginal Cultural Heritage LegislationThe average cost of a CHMP to our members in 2011 was approximately $100,000 with the average time for completion being 9.5 months.
• Overdue publication by DEDJTR of the construction material statisticsCMPA members must, under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act, submit production figures soon after the end of each financial year. However, the Department does not publish these statistics in a timely manner.
• Separation of the extractive industry from mining in the legislationThe Minister demonstrated her interest and understanding of the construction material industry through asking pertinent questions. The Minister also indicated her willingness to write a future article for Sand & Stone on the Government’s future directions for the construction material industry. An issues paper is currently being developed by the CMPA and will be sent to the Minister shortly.