The first new large quarry close to Melbourne in over 20 years has been approved.
Estimated to hold more than 13 million tonnes of sand, the quarry at Lang Lang will help ensure the supply of materials keeps up with the demand of Victoria's housing, infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Sand is a vital ingredient for concrete, making more of it available reduces the chance of supply shortages in the years to come.
The Lang Lang site is the first quarry to obtain planning permission through the Victorian Government's newly created Development Facilitation Program.
To be operated by Lang Lang Sands, the quarry is projected to create 30 jobs directly, with the potential for many more in downstream industries and throughout the nearby communities. Lang Lang Sands is part of the Aurora Construction Materials group, which produces recycled materials. Sand from the new quarry will supplement these materials to produce higher-grade concrete.
Quarry production in Victoria is growing year-on-year with a 14 per cent increase over the three years to 2022-23, reaching an annual production record of 73.6 million tonnes of rock, sand and gravel. Thanks to support from the Resources Victoria Approvals Coordination unit for every one tonne of quarry material currently being produced across the state, four new tonnes have now been approved for future development.
