The British Aggregators Association (BAA) has welcomed plans for several new quarries in Scotland, hailing it as a welcome change to the usual tales of "doom and gloom" in the industry.
Its comments come after planning permission for two new hard rock quarries were passed by Scottish authorities.
The first has been granted to Collier Quarrying and Recycling of Cowdenbeath, which is to develop a site near to the Moss Moran gas plant in Fife, near to one of the main road routes to Edinburgh.
Another greenfield hard rock quarry in South Lanarkshire, close to Abington, has also been given the green light.
It is the first time in over 20 years that Greenfield hard rock quarries have been approved in central Scotland.
"This makes a nice change from the usual gloomy news of cutbacks and companies sitting on landbanks, all of which have a negative affect on our rural economies," said BAA executive officer Richard Bird.
A third site known as Thirstone Quarry, near Loudounhill, has also received the go ahead to develop a sand and gravel deposit.
The plans are a welcome boost to the Scottish production industry, which saw output drop by 8.4 per cent in third quarter of 2009, according to the latest government statistics.