Construction Materials

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport a question regarding the anticipated concrete and aggregate shortages in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Stakeholders in the construction industry advise that there will be a concrete and aggregate shortage, which is expected to significantly impact critical projects. Industry expects shortages to become evident early in 2026 just as the Torrens to Darlington project ramps up its progress. My questions to the minister are:

1. Is the minister aware of concerns raised by industry around an anticipated concrete and aggregate shortage?

2. What are the minister and the department doing to ensure any shortage will not impact major projects?

3. Will the minister develop a heavy construction materials plan and, if not, why not?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Autism) (14:34): Aggregate obviously plays a fundamental role in a lot of our projects. As I have said previously, the Master Builders Association has very much highlighted that we are building, and we are building more than ever before in record amounts, particularly in our public transport construction: 28 per cent growth year on year. It highlights that, yes, we are building.

Aggregate plays an essential part in that, and a lot of it comes locally. I highlighted this also previously with Majors Road. We know that we were able to get aggregate from the Boral quarry just across the road. We are lucky in South Australia that we have a very good industry where we can all work together and make sure that we can get aggregate from around the state to support these projects. I will continue to work with those industries to make sure that these projects can be supported, and I am more than happy to sit down with them and have further conversations.