The NSW Government’s investment in low-carbon manufacturing will support the creation of 25 new full-time jobs at Mid North Coast firm Solidcast. Photo: NSW Climate and Energy Action, NSW Government.
The Minns Labor Government is moving ahead with the creation of low-carbon manufacturing jobs on the state’s Mid North Coast.
More than $2 million will be awarded to Solidcast to boost its production of low-carbon concrete panels, which are used primarily in housing.
An Australian-owned company, Solidcast has a plant in Wauchope and has developed precast panels that cut emissions by up to 60 per cernt compared with traditional methods of making concrete.
Used in large-scale commercial, residential and civil projects, Solidcast’s panels make construction faster, more sustainable and cheaper, helping to ease the strain on the NSW housing sector while also reducing environmental impact.
The NSW Government’s efforts to expand Solidcast’s capacity will create 25 full-time jobs across the construction and operation phases.
“The transition to net zero is not just about reducing emissions. It’s about creating jobs, building industries, and ensuring communities benefit from the opportunities of a low-carbon economy,” Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said.
“These concrete panels are lighter, stronger and can be made with recycled polystyrene, reducing both transport emissions and the amount of waste going to landfill.”
Solidcast’s panels have attracted interest from builders, architects, developers, engineers and project managers working for the government. Their suitability for modular housing projects makes them attractive, as does their ability to withstand common Australian natural disasters such as fires, floods and cyclones.
Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said: “Regional NSW is home to world-class innovation in sustainable construction, and Solidcast is a great example.
“By backing manufacturers like Solidcast, we’re building supply chains at home, reducing reliance on imports, and keeping investment and jobs in our regions.”
The grant is funded by the government’s Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, a program investing $480 million in local businesses to help them grow in the renewable energy, clean-tech and low-carbon sectors.
