Our Circular Precincts and Futures Hub project is a comprehensive exploration of opportunities in the Hunter region to bring the circular economy into reality. Each precinct would represent a key part of the Hunter and outline the potential for circular materials processing, renewable energy production and value-added businesses delivering diversified employment opportunities and new industries to the region.

This project can demonstrate how the circular economy can be put into action and the potential it has to unlock $600 million of investment in our region. It can also develop a model that can be utilised and replicated across the state to make NSW the national powerhouse of circular economy and carbon sequestering organics processing. These outcomes will provide certainty to industry and government, and inform what is needed in terms of funding, skills, and infrastructure to develop these precincts.

The precinct concepts will:

• Consider the context of a network of circular economy businesses across the region and four physical multi-element circular economy industrial precincts
• Explore the potential for circular processing, renewable energy production and value-added businesses
• Explore the ability to deliver diversified employment opportunities and new industries
• Consider key circular elements of existing work on renewable energy industrial precincts, clean manufacturing precincts, and special activation precincts
• Align with the hydrogen hub work already underway in the region

The Circular Economy Futures Hub will provide a trusted body to help activate and grow the precincts while being a key point for circular economy knowledge and data.

With the coal industry declining the region needs to create new industries to replace the economic output. The circular economy offers opportunities to diversify economic output, create new jobs and match existing regional skills, alongside the use of existing road, rail, and transmission infrastructure.

GHD has been engaged to deliver the concept plans, business case and implementation pathway. GHD will leverage circular economy practitioners, industrial ecology principals and technology subject matter experts to codesign the precincts and futures hub with stakeholders.

If you would like more information on this project, please contact Chris Dart on chrisd@hunterjo.com.au