The New South Wales Government has given the go-ahead for a new $81.4 million bioenergy facility in Horsley Park that will power one of the country’s largest brick manufacturing plants.
Austral Bricks has been manufacturing in Horsley Park since the 1960’s and the State Government said this approval will allow the facilities to transition their operations from fossil fuels to renewable biogas.
The facility will divert up to 150,000t of organic waste from landfill each year, converting the waste into renewable green gas using anaerobic digestion technology.
The plant will place organic waste into a sealed tank, allowing bacteria to break it down and release biogas.
This green gas will generate electricity and heat to power the bioenergy facility and be piped to the brick manufacturing kiln to replace the natural gas currently being used as a fuel.
The $81.4 million development is expected to support more than 250 jobs during construction.
Once complete, the development will process solid and liquid organic waste collected from commercial, industrial, agricultural and residential areas.
The State Government said that improving the sustainability of core building materials like bricks is crucial to achieving New South Wales’ climate goals – especially as it accelerates the delivery of homes right across the state.
This approval will mean bricks made from this renewable energy will be used in the construction of thousands of new homes being delivered in metropolitan Sydney and beyond.
Austral Bricks is partnering with renewable energy company Delorean Corporation, to construct and operate the bioenergy facility.
When assessing the proposal, the New South Wales Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure said it carefully considered issues such as traffic, site access, noise, air quality and biodiversity concerns.
For more information see project website.
New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said the New South Wales Government is backing local businesses as they move to low-emissions production, and Austral Bricks’ adoption of bioenergy demonstrates how industry can play a vital role in achieving the state’s climate goals.
“The bioenergy facility is diverting waste that would otherwise been deposited in landfills and repurposing it to reduce our overall carbon footprint,” he said.
“Bioenergy is emerging as a key player in the global energy transition. It offers reliable, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, while supporting the circular economy.
“As New South Wales tackles it’s housing challenges, this renewable energy facility will use green energy to make the millions of bricks required to build the new homes that the state desperately needs.”
Member for Prospect, Hugh McDermott, said Austral Bricks has a long history in this region and this new bioenergy facility is another investment in that ongoing legacy.
“This is a great example of industry moving with the times to improve environmental outcomes while also securing the sites manufacturing future,” Dr McDermott said.
