The Queensland Government’s Budget will include a $7 million investment to deliver the proposed Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone (BREZ).
The investment will help fund the proposed development of BREZ, a Barcaldine industrial precinct that will be linked to a large-scale renewable energy plant and will supply manufacturing tenants with competitive low-carbon electricity.
“The 2023-24 State Budget will not only deliver jobs and economic opportunities right across Queensland, it will also contribute to a cleaner future,” Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.
According to Deputy Premier Miles, the BREZ precinct will aid Queensland in decarbonising and driving renewable energy generation potential.
“Crucially, the establishment of BREZ provides an opportunity for the region to capture the economic benefit of this renewable energy resource and create employment in the region,” Deputy Premier Miles added.
The funding will be used to cover the expenses of common user infrastructure, such as road access, water and sewage infrastructure, to support the development of the BREZ precinct.
Sunshot Industries will design and deliver the BREZ project.
According to the State Government, several tenants have already indicated an interest in establishing within the proposed BREZ precinct.
Companies intending to develop manufacturing facilities, such as a projected ammonia, hydrogen, and urea plant, are included.
“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,” Economist Professor Ross Garnaut said.
Professor Garnaut stated that this year’s Queensland Budget seizes the opportunity and sets the State’s growth on a prosperous new path.
“Sunshot Industries, an associate of ZEN Energy of which I am a Director, has been working with a range of companies interested in investment in the BREZ,” Professor Garnaut noted.
“Barcaldine was chosen as the site for the first rural renewable energy industrial zone because of its existing energy infrastructure, access to rail and road and strong support from local and state Government,” the Professor added.
