Our priorities

Future supply of quarry materials

    Victoria needs a steady supply of rock, sand and gravel to build homes, roads, rail lines and other infrastructure. As the state grows, demand for these materials keeps rising.

    Without a reliable local supply, quarry materials would need to be transported from further afield , making construction more expensive and increasing environmental impacts.

    To manage this, the Victorian Government is planning ahead. A range of initiatives now work together to secure long-term access to quarry materials and support Victoria’s growth.

    Joint Ministerial Statement on Extractive Resources

    The 2025 Joint Ministerial Statement is co-signed by the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Energy and Resources. It sets out the Victorian Government’s main goal: to  maintain a strong and steady supply of quarry materials for the long term.

    The statement says demand for quarry materials will continue to rise and are forecast to reach unprecedented levels in 2034 . To address this, the government wants to make the approvals process for new quarries faster and clearer, while still protecting the environment and communities.

    The statement also shows how government is working with industry groups to understand challenges and reduce delays. Success will be measured by:

    • faster approvals
    • more investment in quarries
    • stronger relationships between industry, government and local communities.

    The 2025 statement replaces an earlier version released in 2018.

    Joint Ministerial Statement on Extractive Resources 2025 (PDF, 1.2 MB)
    Joint Ministerial Statement on Extractive Resources 2018 (PDF, 856.0 KB)

    Extractive resources supply and demand studies

    Supply and demand studieshelp Victoria plan for the future. They show how much quarry materials the state will need and where shortages may occur. This evidence supports better planning and decision-making.

    Resources Victoria has undertaken several ‘point-in-time’ studies. The Extractive Resources Supply and Demand Study 2022–2030 , released in 2023, found that:

    • demand for quarry materials  is expected to rise to 79.5 million tonnes by 2030, up from 63.7 million tonnes in 2020–21
    • Greater Melbourne will use about 80% of all quarry materials  from 2021–22 to 2029–30
    • current reserves near Melbourne will drop sharply as existing quarries begin to run out of material by 2029–30
    • without new quarries or new supply areas, materials will need to travel much further away, driving up costs and greenhouse gas emissions
      • the average transport distance for sand and gravel delivered to Melbourne could rise from 32 km to 151 km
      • the average transport distance for hard rock delivered to Melbourne could rise from 62 km to 183 km.
    Extractives Resources Supply and Demand Report 2022-30 (PDF, 4.3 MB)
    Extractives Resources Supply and Demand Report 2022-30 (WORD, 7.9 MB)

    Another study, the Extractive Resources Supply and Demand Study 2024–34, looked at whether demand has changed. Done internally, it took into account the new Housing Statement, which will add additional demand for construction materials. The study found that demand is growing and by 2034, Victoria is expected to need more than 90 million tonnes of extractive resources.

    Strategic extractive resource areas (SERAs)

    SERAs are areas the Victorian Government has identified as having important quarry resources that require protection for the long term. These areas are close to large population centres, which is also where construction materials are needed most.

    SERAs help communities understand where quarries might be built in the future. They also help make sure new housing or other development does not block access to these resources. When identifying locations for SERAs, government considers the extractive resources in the area, the environment, local communities and cultural heritage.

    Three proposed SERAs are currently being considered by the Department of Transport and Planning. They are located near:

    • Lang Lang (Shire of Cardinia)
    • Oaklands Junction (City of Hume)
    • Trafalgar (Shire of Baw Baw).

    Public consultation for these SERAs took place in 2024. More information and fact sheets are available on Engage Victoria.

    Statewide Reserve Inventory Project

    The Statewide Reserve Inventory (SRI) is the first of its kind in Australia. It is a detailed database with an interactive dashboard that shows where quarry materials are located and how much is available across Victoria. These reserves are defined as material that is permitted and feasible to extract.

    Maintained by Resources Victoria Approvals Coordination, the SRI supports:

    • smart investment decisions for the quarry industry
    • faster approvals for new quarries in high-demand areas
    • planning for affordable housing, roads and other infrastructure
    • long-term planning for strategic extractive resource areas (SERAs ).

    The interactive dashboard lets users view total reserves in tonnes. You can filter by region or material type (hard rock or sand) to navigate the dashboard.

    Statewide Reserve Inventory user guide (PDF, 142.1 KB)

    The SRI also helps government, industry and community plan ahead. It highlights where supply may run short and where new quarries might be needed.

    Data collection is ongoing. So far, the SRI includes data covering more than 70% of Victoria’s annual quarry material production.   To submit your reserves data, contact Tylah Drochmann, Manager Quarry Approvals: tylah.drochmann@deeca.vic.gov.au.

    Page last updated: 13 Feb 2026