The State Government has welcomed the findings of a review into the state’s extractives industry to identify opportunities for improving related regulatory and planning frameworks and support a robust and efficient construction and extractives sector.
Minister for Energy and Mining Dan van Holst Pellekaan thanked the South Australian Productivity Commission for the report and said it will help identify reform opportunities in the planning and regulation of quarries, the use of quarry products and rehabilitation and post-closure land use.
“I’d like to acknowledge Dr Matthew Butlin and Professor Christopher Findlay for leading this review into the extractives industry, and I believe the government’s response to this review is balanced and achieves regulatory efficiency without reducing regulatory oversight,” Minister van Holst Pellekaan said.
“The final report sets out the Productivity Commission’s understanding of the issues affecting state and local government regulation, policies and practices for the extractives supply chain, and identifies reform options that will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of those arrangements.
“We need to ensure that community expectations in relation to the environmental and social impacts of the extractives industry are maintained, and this review is another way the State Government is ensuring this occurs.
“The review into the extractives industry identifies opportunities to further protect vital resources and enhance collaboration between construction, infrastructure and extractives industries that underpin South Australia’s vital infrastructure and domestic construction sector.
“With around $12.9 billion of infrastructure spending earmarked over the next four years in our state, the extractives industry will continue to play a crucial role in ensuring the delivery of valuable community assets, driving economic growth and delivering jobs for South Australians.
“In concert with the changes being made to the Mining Act Regulations, the Productivity Commission’s Report into the extractives industry will help improve transparency and reform opportunities that will benefit both communities and industry.
“The government supports updating, simplifying and streamlining regulatory and process-related guidance material for the extractives sector, and this will help a range of industries to grow beyond their current trajectory supported by leveraging our state’s competitive advantages,” Minister van Holst Pellekaan said.
