August 1, 2024
South Burnett Regional Council will receive $750,000 to investigate the establishment of “industrial circular economy precincts” in Kingaroy and Murgon.
The funding, announced by the State Government on Thursday, is part of a larger funding package for projects across the Darling Downs, South West and South Burnett region (see separate report).
Council CEO Mark Pitt said a business case for the precincts would be drafted to investigate the impact on economic development in the South Burnett, including job creation and the more efficient use of resources.
The aim of an Industrial Circular Economy Precinct would be to:
- Minimise waste generation and environmental impact by promoting the reuse, refurbishment and recycling of materials, including agricultural waste
- Create closed-loop systems where waste from one process becomes a valuable input for another
- Create resilient, local supply chains that are sustainable, efficient and low-waste
The precincts would foster collaboration between different industries, businesses, researchers and stakeholders to drive innovation in product design, manufacturing processes and business models.
There would be environmental benefits by reducing the footprint of industrial activities, as well as the opportunity to build more resilient supply chains.
The SBRC wants to conduct a robust options assessment and develop a detailed business case for the two precincts.
Developing a “circularity plan” for the South Burnett was canvassed at a Red Earth Leadership Forum in Murgon in 2022.
A key proponent of circularity is Bega Cheese executive chairman Barry Irvin AM, who spoke at the forum.
Mr Irvin led the development of a successful “circularity plan” for the Bega region in southern NSW, which was featured on ABC-TV’s Landline program on July 21 this year.
- Related article: Projects To ‘Transform Region’
- External link: Bega’s Bid To Become A Circular Economy (ABC Landline)
