Member for Morwell, Russell Northe when speaking in Parliament yesterday has condemned the Minister for Resources for failing to commit to meet with local Latrobe Valley Quarry owners to address a number of issues the quarry industry is currently facing.
Mr Northe had requested in December last year in Parliament the necessity for the Minister to meet with local quarry owners urgently so he could hear firsthand the challenges these owners are facing. Some of our local quarries include, Maryvale Sands, Matthews Quarries, Latrobe Valley Blue Metal and Latrobe Valley Sands.
Disappointingly the Minister has failed to adequately respond to my request in Parliament by simply talking about strategies, reviews and high level meetings, which does nothing to allay the current concerns of quarry operators or the industry more generally.
Whilst the Minister states that meetings have been held with peak industry groups, he needs to understand what is actually happening in the resources sector in the Latrobe Valley.
Jobs have been decimated in the coal and timber industries under the current Government in our region, and unless decisive action is taken now the quarry industry will be next.
“Many of our local quarries currently have a limited life, and despite endeavours to expand existing quarries or even acquire existing unused quarries, very little progression is being made,” said Mr Northe
And the reality is this is because of a lack of common sense being applied, a lack of experienced departmental staff, and onerous red and green tape.” Mr Northe said.
“The government’s own department has been non-compliant in meeting statuary time frames with some applications and invariably legal and other issues arise including those at VCAT. All these factors equal massive delays and significant costs to these businesses” said Mr Northe
Mr Northe said, “So it is extremely disappointing that the Minister has essentially refused to meet with these businesses as they deserve the opportunity to get some understanding of how they can continue to operate now and into the future.”
Because the current Government has allowed coal and timber businesses to close in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria is now having to import electricity and timber from other states and even overseas.
And unless major changes are made urgently in the quarry industry then construction material will also have to be imported from other jurisdictions – and what a sad day that would be for Victoria and the Latrobe Valley.
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