ABARE’s Minerals and Energy: Major Development Projects report notes the value of projects either under construction or committed has increased by 33% since its April 2007 report and 66% since October last year.

Last week, a study released by Access Economics found similar growth among resources projects of all scales, saying the value of projects in planning or under consideration in Australia had reached a "staggering" $357 billion.

ABARE executive director Phillip Glyde said the bureau's report showed a record 305 major projects in the latest listing.

Of these, 214 projects were at less-advanced stages and still undergoing feasibility studies, 29 had been completed and 51 had been added to the list since April 2007.

Between April 2007 and October 2007, three projects – the Pluto liquefied natural gas project and Pyrenees oil project, both in the north of Western Australia, and the Yarwun Alumina Refinery expansion in Queensland – were committed to, at a value of over $16 billion. This accounts for a significant proportion of the increased value of committed projects.

"Energy projects account for around 55 per cent ($31.6 billion) of the estimated capital cost of $57.9 billion for all of the advanced projects,” he said.

But lack of skilled labour, and increased materials and construction costs, were continuing to have an impact on the timing and overall costs for some projects, according to Glyde.

"In the short to medium term, high levels of investment activity are expected to continue in the resource sector," he said.

"While not all of the less-advanced projects will necessarily proceed to development, the record number of 214 provides another indicator of the strong growth prospects of the sector."

The report found WA accounted for more than 73% of capital expenditure on advanced projects, including 12 petroleum projects, valued at $22.5 billion, and nine iron ore projects, worth $11.7 billion.