The NSW Government has today released the Energy From Waste Infrastructure Plan, providing certainty for communities and investors and creating opportunities for NSW to lead the way in the delivery of world-class alternative energy projects.
Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Minister responsible for Resources John Barilaro said the Plan outlines how the NSW Government will support innovative ways of managing waste, drive investment into the bush and provide certainty for communities.
“The NSW Government is delivering waste to energy facilities to help power a manufacturing renaissance and bring jobs to regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.
“These modern facilities will be located strategically to service the whole state, aimed at driving waste out of landfill and into the circular economy, using state-of-the-art technology to maximise regional economic and employment benefits.”
The Plan makes clear where new thermal waste to energy facilities can and cannot proceed, identifying the West Lithgow Precinct, Parkes Special Activation Precinct, Richmond Valley Regional Jobs Precinct and Southern Goulburn-Mulwaree Precinct as priority locations to host these operations.
Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean said the plan is the final piece of the waste management puzzle and builds on the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy and Plastics Plan released earlier this year.
“This is about getting the balance right between supporting investment in NSW, driving a circular economy and reducing carbon emissions, while also respecting the concerns of local communities,” Mr Kean said.
“The Plan ensures new thermal waste to energy projects are co-located with transport links and complimentary industries, and kept away from high density residential areas.
“It also allows proposals which involve existing industrial facilities switching to more environmentally friendly waste-derived fuels.”
Under the Plan, operators of energy from waste projects will be required to make emissions data available to the community in real time online, to boost community confidence and transparency.
The Infrastructure Plan builds on the existing Energy from Waste Policy Statement that was informed by advice from the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer and sets the most rigorous air quality and environmental controls for energy from waste projects in the world.
