South-east Tasmania has effectively run out of coarse sand suitable for concrete production, according to a new government report that warns the shortage will drive up infrastructure costs across the region.
The Mineral Resources Tasmania report, published this month, found transport distances for the material will increase from 35 kilometres to more than 300 kilometres as suppliers source sand from the state’s north-east.
It warned the extra travel “will result in higher costs for infrastructure projects in the south of the state”.
Independent MPs are now pressing the government on what the findings mean for the proposed Macquarie Point stadium.
Nelson MLC Meg Webb said the report casts fresh doubt on the project’s current $1.13 billion price tag.
She said the shortage of coarse sand would have “critical consequences” for the multi-purpose waterfront venue.
“It has now become even more expensive as that sand will now need to be brought in from somewhere else,” she said.
Franklin MP Peter George also called on the government to clarify how the supply issue would affect the stadium’s financing.
He and Webb questioned the timing of the report, noting it was dated November 20 – the final day of budget estimates hearings.
“In yet another example of how this government tries to bury bad news … [the report] appears to have been withheld to avoid proper scrutiny … when its impact on the stadium would have been highlighted,” George said.
Macquarie Point Urban Renewal Minister Eric Abetz dismissed the concerns as a “scare campaign from stadium opponents”.
He said the report provides information needed to identify new sand resources in the south.
“This is a pre-emptive action to ensure industry understands the opportunities at hand and to future-proof sand supply in the state,” Abetz said.
The report also found there is no easy short-term replacement for local coarse sand and that geological scarcity will “challenge the discovery of new deposits”.
It noted concrete batchers are already turning to crusher dust and importing sand from the north at a cost of 20 to 25 cents per tonne per kilometre.
