Excitement around Qld's newest energy precinct
The Queensland Government has allocated $7 million in its Budget to support the proposed establishment of the Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone (BREZ), an industrial precinct in Barcaldine that will be linked to a large-scale renewable energy project and provide manufacturing tenants with competitive low-carbon electricity.
“Queensland has immense opportunities to use its rich renewable energy resources to underwrite the state’s greatest era of economic development,” said economist Professor Ross Garnaut.
“The new zero emissions industry can bring full employment and rising incomes for a growing population for as far ahead as we can see.
“There is active interest in a number of projects of various scales and adding up to transformational development for a small inland town. The Budget decision will accelerate movement from active interest to real activity on the ground,” Garnaut said.
The tenants who have already expressed interest in establishing businesses within the proposed BREZ precinct include companies seeking to establish manufacturing facilities such as a proposed ammonia, hydrogen and urea plant.
The state funding will go towards common user infrastructure costs, including road access, water and sewage infrastructure to support the establishment of the BREZ precinct.
The BREZ project will be developed and delivered by Sunshot Industries.
“Barcaldine is ideally located, with solar and wind resources, and the Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone precinct will support jobs in regional Queensland,” said Deputy Premier Steven Miles.
Miles added that the Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone would help Queensland’s transmission to a decarbonised future and drive renewable energy generation potential.
“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,” Garnaut said.
“I’m very much looking forward to watching the BREZ make its distinctive contribution to an exciting new era of development in the Sunshine State.”
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