- The Newcastle-Sydney High Speed Rail development highlights need for coordinated NSW Heavy Construction Materials Plan
- Heavy construction materials make up nearly 30% of total infrastructure project costs, requiring careful supply planning
- Greater Sydney region alone needs 500 million tonnes of quarry products by 2036 for various projects
- Coordination between Federal infrastructure plans and State planning frameworks crucial for sustainable materials supply
- CCAA calls for detailed supply-demand study to assess production capacity and identify risks early in project lifecycle
Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) says the announcement of the Newcastle–Sydney High Speed Rail development phase reinforces the importance of a coordinated NSW Heavy Construction Materials Plan, supported by a detailed supply and demand study.
With major infrastructure pipelines underway across transport, housing and renewable energy, forward planning for cement, concrete and aggregates is essential to ensure projects such as High Speed Rail can proceed efficiently, with stable supply and controlled budget outcomes.
CCAA CEO Michael Kilgariff said nation-building infrastructure must be matched by disciplined planning for the materials that underpin it, given heavy construction materials account for nearly 30 per cent of total project costs.
“For a project the scale of High Speed Rail, with extensive civil works, structures, stations and supporting infrastructure, understanding future materials demand and existing supply capacity is fundamental to managing cost pressures and maintaining construction timeframes,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“Between now and 2036, at least 500 million tonnes of finished quarry products will be required to supply the Greater Sydney region alone, highlighting the scale of materials required across concurrent public and private projects.”
While High Speed Rail is a Commonwealth-led initiative, the cement, concrete and aggregates required to build it are regulated and approved within NSW. Effective coordination between Federal infrastructure commitments and State land-use planning, resource protection and approvals frameworks will therefore be essential to ensuring a steady, proximate and sustainable supply of materials.
“CCAA has consistently called for an integrated NSW Heavy Construction Materials Plan to provide reliable, affordable and predictable supply,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“Such a plan should be underpinned by a detailed supply and demand study that quantifies future materials requirements, assesses production capacity and freight corridors, and identifies risks early in the project lifecycle.
“With multiple major projects progressing simultaneously, materials planning cannot be an afterthought.
“A comprehensive evidence base will help align Commonwealth infrastructure ambition with State resource settings — reducing risk, limiting budgetary pressures and supporting the timely delivery of High Speed Rail and other critical projects.”
CCAA encourages early engagement between all levels of government and industry to ensure materials supply considerations are embedded in project planning from the outset.
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About CCAA
CCAA is the voice of Australia’s heavy construction materials industry, an industry that generates over $15 billion annually and directly employs 30,000 Australians, with a further 80,000 employed indirectly. 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]