❓ Hon Phil Edman asks about the importance of limestone extraction south of Perth for infrastructure and the role of sequential land use (backfilling quarries) in viable quarrying. The Minister acknowledges the importance of limestone and sequential land use for development and cost reduction.
AnsweredQoN 83Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LIMESTONE QUARRYING — METROPOLITAN
AREA
83. Hon PHIL
EDMAN to the minister representing the Minister for Planning:
(1) Can the
minister outline the importance of the extraction of limestone as a strategic
raw material south of the river in the metropolitan area for future port, road
and building infrastructure?
(2) Can the
minister explain how sequential land use—that is, the backfilling of quarries
to produce land for development through subdivision or other useful purposes—is
crucial to the viable quarrying of limestone resources in the metropolitan
area?
AREA
83. Hon PHIL
EDMAN to the minister representing the Minister for Planning:
(1) Can the
minister outline the importance of the extraction of limestone as a strategic
raw material south of the river in the metropolitan area for future port, road
and building infrastructure?
(2) Can the
minister explain how sequential land use—that is, the backfilling of quarries
to produce land for development through subdivision or other useful purposes—is
crucial to the viable quarrying of limestone resources in the metropolitan
area?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for the question. This member does
an outstanding job in this area.
(1) This
question raises an important issue about the availability of essential basic
raw materials needed for housing and infrastructure development across the
state. Limestone, as well as sand, gravel, rock and clay, are important raw
materials used in the construction of homes, roads and ports, as well as in
industry and agriculture. Depending on its quality, limestone is used for port
and breakwater construction, road base and various uses in the construction
industry. High quality limestone or lime sand is essential for the manufacture
of cement for concrete, plaster and mortars. Limestone, as cut or compressed
blocks, is also widely used for retaining wall construction in new residential
subdivisions and as stone in building construction and as pavers. Limestone
also plays an important role in many industrial processes such as alumina
refining, and in the heavy mineral sands, gold and lateritic nickel industries.
It is also used in agriculture to reduce soil acidity and hence improve
productivity.
As parts of the Perth metropolitan
region and other areas of the state grow to accommodate our strong population
growth, a continued supply of affordable raw materials will be required. In
particular, a close proximity of supply of materials to new housing development
is important in keeping down the cost of land subdivision and housing
development, as transportation costs can significantly increase the cost of the
raw materials.
Extraction of limestone and other
basic raw materials will continue to be an essential part of residential
development and infrastructure provision in the southern metropolitan area and
elsewhere in the state. Relevant
government departments have been working collaboratively over a number of years
to plan for basic raw material provision to support the growth of the Bunbury–Busselton
region. This has produced a sophisticated demand and supply methodology which
will be used in the review of the state planning policy on basic raw materials
(2) Sequential
land use planning involves determining an appropriate end use for land, then
allowing other interim land uses to occur prior to its end use. This may
include rural land being used for basic raw material extraction, then the land
being developed for urban development. Extraction of limestone and backfilling
of the quarry for other uses, such as recreational use or residential
development, is an example of successful sequential land use. There are some
operators in Perth who are able to backfill limestone quarries with clean
recycled material, remediate them and then make the land available for
residential development. This can be a very successful and efficient use of
land. Other examples of sequential development of limestone quarries include
Joondalup Resort and golf course, the Flynn Drive industrial estate and the
Latitude 32 project. The review of the state planning policy on basic raw
materials will provide further guidance on sequential land use planning and
other land use planning matters related to the ongoing supply of these
important materials.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I ask ministers and parliamentary
secretaries, in their representative capacities, to alert their ministerial
colleagues in the other place to the new standing orders of the Legislative
Council, which include a provision relating to answers, which is that answers
be concise and relevant. Other, more substantive, statements can be made during
ministerial statements.
an outstanding job in this area.
(1) This
question raises an important issue about the availability of essential basic
raw materials needed for housing and infrastructure development across the
state. Limestone, as well as sand, gravel, rock and clay, are important raw
materials used in the construction of homes, roads and ports, as well as in
industry and agriculture. Depending on its quality, limestone is used for port
and breakwater construction, road base and various uses in the construction
industry. High quality limestone or lime sand is essential for the manufacture
of cement for concrete, plaster and mortars. Limestone, as cut or compressed
blocks, is also widely used for retaining wall construction in new residential
subdivisions and as stone in building construction and as pavers. Limestone
also plays an important role in many industrial processes such as alumina
refining, and in the heavy mineral sands, gold and lateritic nickel industries.
It is also used in agriculture to reduce soil acidity and hence improve
productivity.
As parts of the Perth metropolitan
region and other areas of the state grow to accommodate our strong population
growth, a continued supply of affordable raw materials will be required. In
particular, a close proximity of supply of materials to new housing development
is important in keeping down the cost of land subdivision and housing
development, as transportation costs can significantly increase the cost of the
raw materials.
Extraction of limestone and other
basic raw materials will continue to be an essential part of residential
development and infrastructure provision in the southern metropolitan area and
elsewhere in the state. Relevant
government departments have been working collaboratively over a number of years
to plan for basic raw material provision to support the growth of the Bunbury–Busselton
region. This has produced a sophisticated demand and supply methodology which
will be used in the review of the state planning policy on basic raw materials
(2) Sequential
land use planning involves determining an appropriate end use for land, then
allowing other interim land uses to occur prior to its end use. This may
include rural land being used for basic raw material extraction, then the land
being developed for urban development. Extraction of limestone and backfilling
of the quarry for other uses, such as recreational use or residential
development, is an example of successful sequential land use. There are some
operators in Perth who are able to backfill limestone quarries with clean
recycled material, remediate them and then make the land available for
residential development. This can be a very successful and efficient use of
land. Other examples of sequential development of limestone quarries include
Joondalup Resort and golf course, the Flynn Drive industrial estate and the
Latitude 32 project. The review of the state planning policy on basic raw
materials will provide further guidance on sequential land use planning and
other land use planning matters related to the ongoing supply of these
important materials.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I ask ministers and parliamentary
secretaries, in their representative capacities, to alert their ministerial
colleagues in the other place to the new standing orders of the Legislative
Council, which include a provision relating to answers, which is that answers
be concise and relevant. Other, more substantive, statements can be made during
ministerial statements.
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