The Queensland Government has announced that the plan to establish the Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone (BREZ) is advancing, with discussions with several companies underway.
The State Government allocated $7 million in the State Budget for common user infrastructure to get the proposed BREZ precinct off the ground.
“Our government is investing in projects that will deliver jobs and economic opportunities in regional Queensland, while contributing to decarbonisation targets,” Acting Premier Steven Miles said.
“Our targets of 70 per cent renewables by 2032 and net zero emissions by 2050, as outlined in the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, are set to transform our infrastructure, energy system and economy,” he added.
Acting Premier Miles met with Professor Ross Garnaut, a distinguished economist, to discuss the proposed renewable energy zone ahead of the Economic Thought Leadership Forum on decarbonising supply chains and establishing new industries in Queensland.
“Queensland is on the cusp of a new wave of economic growth driven by the global shift to a net zero economy and we are seizing this opportunity,” Acting Premier Miles stated.
Professor Garnaut is a director of ZEN Energy, which owns Sunshot Industries and will develop and deliver the BREZ project in collaboration with the Barcaldine Regional Council.
“Queensland has immense opportunities to use its rich renewable energy resources to underwrite the state’s greatest era of economic development. The new zero emissions industry can bring full employment and rising incomes for a growing population for as far ahead as we can see,” Professor Garnaut said.
He stated that BREZ will serve as a paradigm for zero-emission rural development in Queensland and Australia.
“The industries in the BREZ will be globally competitive, relying on low energy and materials costs for sales. They will be sustainable, increasing in value and scale as the world moves to zero net emissions. Employment and population in Barcaldine and the surrounding region will be able to grow after generations of decline,” he added.
The proposed industrial hub will be connected to a large-scale renewable energy project, offering competitive, low-carbon electricity to its manufacturing tenants.
“With its abundance of solar and wind resources, Barcaldine is ideally positioned to capitalise on this transition,” Acting Premier Miles said.
Several companies have expressed an interest in locating in the industrial precinct, and discussions with these companies are ongoing.
The Queensland Government is collaborating with the Joint Venture partners for BREZ, Sunshot Industries and Barcaldine Regional Council, to establish the best and most efficient project delivery strategy.
It comes on the heels of the introduction of the Queensland New Industry Development Strategy in May, which aims to grow industries crucial to the global transition to a net zero economy, including renewable energy manufacturing.
“Earlier this year I released our Queensland New Industry Development Strategy, which aims to drive industrial and regional transformation in priority industries,” Acting Premier Miles said.
The State Government also calls for community feedback on the Queensland New Industry Development Strategy.
“Your feedback will help us develop regionally specific transformation strategies and allocate funding to projects that will create local jobs and support economic growth in the long term,” Acting Premier Miles stated.
“We will continue working with industry and communities to ensure all the opportunities presented by the shift to a decarbonised economy are realised,” he added.
