CCAA Welcomes NSW Budget Focus on Housing and Infrastructure Delivery
Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia
Key Facts:- Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) has welcomed the NSW Budget's $116.7 billion infrastructure pipeline, whilst emphasising the need to secure long-term supplies of heavy construction materials to deliver projects on time and cost-effectively.
- The cement, concrete and aggregates industry contributes $4.27 billion to New South Wales' Gross State Product and supports more than 19,000 jobs, playing a critical role in infrastructure, housing and essential services.
- CCAA is advocating for a NSW Heavy Construction Materials Plan to secure construction material supplies, protect strategic quarry resources and freight corridors, and provide certainty for housing, infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
- Improved freight efficiencies, including prioritising the reopening and resilience of the Great Western Highway as a strategic freight route, are seen as essential to reducing housing and infrastructure costs.
- CCAA is calling for a streamlined, coordinated approvals framework to eliminate duplication between State and Federal processes, with the principle of assess once, approve once to support delivery of the State's housing target of 377,000 new homes by 2029.
Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia has welcomed the release of the NSW Budget by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, recognising the difficult task of managing spending pressures while continuing to deliver the major infrastructure needed to support communities, jobs and economic growth across New South Wales.
CCAA CEO Michael Kilgariff said the Budget comes at a critical time for the State, with government, industry and communities all focused on delivering more homes, completing major transport projects and enabling the next wave of renewable energy investment.
The cement, concrete and aggregates industry contributes $4.27 billion to New South Wales’ Gross State Product and supports more than 19,000 jobs across the State, playing a critical role in delivering the infrastructure, housing and essential services that underpin economic growth.
“The NSW Government faces the dual challenge of maintaining budget discipline while ensuring essential infrastructure continues to be delivered for a growing State,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“The Budget’s $116.7 billion infrastructure pipeline reinforces the importance of securing long-term supplies of heavy construction materials to ensure projects can be delivered on time, at scale and at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers.
“Projects such as the Hexham Bypass, Western Harbour Tunnel, Sydney Metro and water infrastructure across Western Sydney are vital to the productivity, liveability and long-term competitiveness of NSW.”
Mr Kilgariff said CCAA looked forward to working constructively with the NSW Government to help meet the State’s commitment to deliver 377,000 new homes by 2029.
“Housing delivery depends on reliable access to locally sourced construction materials, efficient freight routes and a planning system that enables projects to move from approval to construction without unnecessary delay,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“To support this task, CCAA continues to advocate for a NSW Heavy Construction Materials Plan to secure the long-term supply of construction materials, protect strategic quarry resources and freight corridors, and provide greater certainty for housing, infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
“A critical element of the Plan should be a comprehensive supply and demand assessment of heavy construction materials against the State’s future infrastructure and construction pipeline.
“A continued focus on freight efficiencies across the network, which were encouraged by the Minns Government during the recent fuel crisis, will improve productivity and help reduce housing and infrastructure costs.
“This includes prioritising the reopening and future resilience of the Great Western Highway, recognising its importance as a strategic freight route for the movement of heavy construction materials.”
Mr Kilgariff said duplication between State and Federal approval processes must be avoided if NSW is to meet its housing, infrastructure and clean energy ambitions.
“Industry needs a clear, coordinated and timely approvals framework. The principle should be simple: assess once, approve once, and get on with delivery,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“The homes, roads, rail lines, schools, hospitals and renewable energy projects outlined in this Budget will all rely on secure supplies of locally produced construction materials.
“CCAA will continue to advocate for the development of a NSW Heavy Construction Materials Plan and the planning, approval and freight reforms needed to secure long-term access to the materials NSW requires.”
About us:
About CCAA
CCAA is the voice of Australia’s heavy construction materials industry, an industry that contributes $20.7 billion to GDP and supports 112,970 jobs nationwide. CCAA members produce most of Australia's cement, concrete and aggregates, which are essential to the nation’s building and construction sectors.
Contact details:
Contact: Mitch Itter, Manager Communications | 0431 542 660 | [email protected]