Astrotourism (including space infrastructure assets) Government continues to receive enquiries from international tourism sector investors about the availability of astro and geotourism assets proximate to tourism centres. Several locations have been identified for their astrotourism potential. 18 To secure their value, the State Government has developed planning guidelines to protect the dark skies that make these assets special. Locations favoured by industry are already destinations, such as Lake Ballard, Lucky Bay in Goldfields Esperance, Dales Gorge in the Pilbara, Roebuck Bay in the Kimberley, Wooleen Station in the Mid West, Dryandra Woodland National Park, Lake Ninan / Wongan Hills and Wave Rock / Hyden in the Wheatbelt and Sal Salis / Ningaloo in the Gascoyne. 19 Other WA destinations have similar potential, with the point being that remoteness means dark skies and unforgettable experiences. Recycling and the Circular Economy Commonwealth and State commitment to divert 80% of waste from landfill by 2030; international import prohibitions on Australian comingled recyclables; and, regulations driving environmentally sustainable landfilling practices are driving rapid transformation of the waste sector. 20 This is creating investment opportunities for industries seeking to participate in the recycling value chain at collection, sorting, recycling and manufacturing. Government is responding by rolling out national and WA programs to investigate, regulate and invest in new recycling infrastructure. These investments are creating jobs – an estimated direct 9.2FTE employment per 10,000t for recycling versus 2.8FTE for landfill. This is due, in general, to the higher number of activities associated with recycling – sorting, transport and new product manufacturing – and the labour involved. An equivalent number of flow-on, indirect jobs are estimated to be created through recycling and landfill activities. 21 The investment potential for government and industry of regional waste sorting is assisted by separating waste at the source (three-bin system), which supports efficient material recovery by producing a more homogenous and higher value streams that are easier to recover. Due to the short distances that it is economic to transport low value materials, most regional areas will benefit from establishing materials recovery facilities (MRF) at strategic locations to avoid the high transport and carbon costs shipping materials to Perth. There is the potential for sorted and cleaned plastics to be exported directly from regional ports, to avoid land transport and unnecessary carbon costs. Other potential sources of revenue include the incorporation of crumbed rubber, plastic, concrete and crushed glass in road base, bitumen and concrete products. Initial opportunities for these products is the transport sectors, but they have application for property development and other infrastructure. The business case for regional MRFs and recycling is strengthened when powered by cheaper land values along with low-cost renewable energy in the regions. Benefits flow to out years as ongoing carbon offsets. Infrastructure Australia currently allows $90/t offsets in business cases it evaluates. This comprises a huge market including most government spending on public infrastructure. The values of offsets in Europe is even greater and points to the appreciation of carbon offsets over time. The economic value of recycling cascades across the economy and has deeper implication when trading with the European Union which has established a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. 22 This mechanism and others under consideration in key markets will have tax repercussions unless Australian exporters reduce their carbon intensity. Smart recycling with green energy produces benefits throughout business and offers WA an industry-wide Net Zero opportunity with export cost advantages.
astrotourismwa.com.au
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rac.com.au/travel-touring/info/10-best-stargazing-spots
20 www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Industry_Innovation_Science_and_Resources/WasteandRecycling/Report 21 www.awe.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/publications/employment-waste-management-and-recycling 22 The CBAM ensures that imported goods pay a price for their carbon emissions that is comparable to the price paid by EU domestic producers under the EU’s Emission Trading System.
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