A $7 million Queensland Government investment will support the proposed establishment of the Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone (BREZ), an industrial precinct in Barcaldine which will be linked to a large-scale, renewable energy project and provide industry with low-carbon electricity.
The funding will go towards the costs of the common user infrastructure, including road access, water and sewage infrastructure to support the establishment of the BREZ precinct.
A number of businesses have expressed interest in the proposed BREZ precinct, including companies seeking to establish manufacturing facilities such as a proposed ammonia, hydrogen and urea plant.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said: “Barcaldine is ideally located, with solar and wind resources, and the Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone precinct will support jobs in regional Queensland.
“Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone will help Queensland’s transmission to a decarbonised future and drive 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.”
Economist Professor Ross Garnaut said: “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.
“There is active interest in a number of projects of various scale 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.
“It sets the state up as a central player in building Australia as an economic Superpower of the zero emissions world economy.
“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.”
