The Bundaberg bioHub industrial park is now taking expressions of interest from prospective bioenergy, food and fertiliser industry tenants.
Bioenergy developer Utilitas Group has collaborated with Bundaberg Regional Council to acquire the former East Bundaberg Wastewater Treatment Plant to create an industrial park focused on renewable natural gas, biomethane and hydrogen.
Utilitas Group and local gas network owner AGIG are currently jointly assessing the feasibility of green gas from the Bundaberg bioHub going into the Bundaberg gas distribution network via a new connection.
Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey said the bioHub project will invigorate the decommissioned East Bundaberg wastewater treatment plant and create new jobs in a dynamic, future-focused industry.
“Bundaberg is poised to become the bio-manufacturing capital of Queensland and Australia,” he said.
“Bundaberg will be the showcase bioHub site for Utilitas which will make us a role model for the rest of Australia.
“Repurposing our retired East Bundaberg wastewater treatment plant as part of a next generation bioHub will help attract and develop industry leaders in the growing bio-manufacturing sector.”
Bundaberg bioHub offers industrial and commercial tenants a unique blend of laboratory, waste and wastewater services, electricity, gas, C02 and hot water as part of their tenancy.
Ideal tenancies now available for:
- Biomanufacturing
- Growhouse
- Aquaculture
- Ag-tech
- Organic processing
- Fertiliser
- Biogas
Bundaberg bioHub is also a showcase for renewable natural gas solutions, biomethane and hydrogen, tailored to the Australian market.
Utilitas chief executive Fiona Waterhouse said: “Our supply chain partners, Green Eco Technologies (GET), Grenof, ENGV, Energy360, Scania, New Holland and ReCarbon Inc. have told us how important it is to provide an ‘expo park' to showcase the technologies and new business models for this new asset class in Australia.
“We are very excited to be working with waste industry innovators, GET, supplier of the WasteMaster organic waste management system on display at the Bundaberg bioHub.”
As an indication of the bioeconomy opportunity in the region and GET’s commitment to Queensland, once the first 30-40 WasteMasters are installed in commercial facilities like clubs, pubs, hospitals and aged care facilities in the Wide Bay Region, GET will be looking to establish their Queensland base, including manufacturing capability, at the Bundaberg bioHub.
“Customers get cheaper, cleaner, safer organic waste management, the Bundaberg bioHub get a great feedstock for making renewable natural gas (RNG) and Bundaberg gets some new manufacturing jobs,” she said.
