Bega Circular Valley 2030 Initiative

The ‘Bega Circular Valley 2030’ program is a transformational regional development initiative with a vision to establish the Bega Valley as the most circular regional economy in Australia by 2030.

The Regional Circularity Co-operative (RCC), a not for profit, independent entity was established by Bega Group in 2021 to drive this transition. With collaboration at its core, the RCC has garnered strong partnerships with the community, businesses, corporations, academia and government, all working together to demonstrate transition pathways through pilots in the Bega Valley and beyond.

The range of projects and partnerships that the RCC is working on and developing is continuously expanding and, amongst others, includes:

• National Centre for Circularity in Bega: design is almost complete for construction of this $20 million joint NSW Government and Bega Group funded education, tourist information, heritage, hospitality and collaboration centre to showcase circular economy initiatives locally and across the world.
• National Circularity in Fisheries and aquaculture program: driving circularity in Australia’s fishing and aquaculture sectors and harnessing solution providers in partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
• Decarbonisation in grazing sectors – dairy and beef: pilot program baselining and transition pathway analysis of dairy and beef sectors in the Bega Valley, in partnership with NSW Department of Primary Industry.
• Heat exchange and energy optimisation program at factory and farm: partnership with NSW Decarbonisation Hub to monitor and deliver energy efficiency gains in the dairy sector.

• Baselining circularity and opportunity analysis (in development): a one of a kind place-based, whole-of-economy program in Australia that will include comprehensive material flow analysis and identification of transition opportunities.

• Other projects in delivery or development include management of plastics and organics in agriculture, sensorisation of the landscape, natural capital and regenerative, resilient agriculture program, net zero energy strategy, biochar investigations, enterprise stacking and more.

For more information on the Bega Circular Valley program, visit begacircularvalley.com.au