The Victorian Government has announced new steps to limit the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Victoria’s resources sector.

Minister for Resources Jaclyn Symes last week announced Earth Resources Regulation will defer the collection of rent and annual fees worth $3.5 million until January 2021 to aid the immediate cashflow of mines, quarries and exploration companies.

The Government has previously announced a freeze on all fee increases that were due to come into effect in July.

Payroll tax refunds and waivers to small and medium sized businesses totalling more than $486 million have been paid across the state, and $10,000 Business Support Fund grants paid to 36,400 eligible businesses with wages bills below the payroll tax threshold.

The Victorian Government’s also said it will provide $2.7 billion towards hundreds of shovel-ready projects, helping create jobs to get people back to work.

It said the quarry sector will be vital in unearthing the rock, sand and stone needed for this building blitz – in recognition of this, the Government will also streamline planning to help strategically important quarries to grow and new sites to be developed, to aid the flow of raw materials over the coming years.

“Earth Resources Regulation already has a streamlined approval pathway for minor changes to existing quarries – it will now fast-track the approval process for works to supply critical material for infrastructure projects at a time when businesses are facing additional pressure,” a statement read.

“The regulator will consider the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in its decision-making process for new licence and authority approvals, and for changes to licence and authority conditions such as expenditure requirements.”