The Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on State Development received nearly a third of its submissions from stakeholders based in Wollongong and Illawarra, including BlueScope Steel, i3net, Hyzon Motors and Wollongong University.
“Wollongong’s business, industry, labor and research and development capabilities at Wollongong University are more than ready to help revive the hydrogen industry in this state.
“Port Kembla has been identified as a hydrogen hub and we have already seen some of the biggest investments in the country to build industry capacity locally.
“Illawarra also has Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy high power investment interest and focus on developing hydrogen to produce clean steel,†said Mr. Scully.
He said he had brought together key stakeholders over the past few months to develop the Recharge Illawarra – Hydrogen plan to put in place a strategy involving the production and use of hydrogen for a trial of public transport and trucks, skills and training, Illawarra land use planning supply chain development involving manufacturers, manufacturers and local content.
“The Illawarra Recharge – Hydrogen plan is ready to be implemented with a comprehensive strategy presented to the government so that we can build all the elements that Illawarra needs to make its mark on hydrogen supply and demand.
“Part of the plan is to develop the hydrogen workforce of the future in Illawarra by ensuring that our local TAFE and the University of Wollongong have the courses and training modules to develop these skilled workers.
“We are in the box-seat of Illawarra to help develop this critically important new industry and I want the parliamentary inquiry to know how far ahead we are in planning the hydrogen hub at Port. Kembla, â€Mr. Scully said.
The stakeholder groups involved in the development of the Illawarra Recharge – Hydrogen plan include:
Paul Scully MP, MP for Wollongong
South Coast Labor Council (including relevant affiliated unions)
University of Wollongong
BlueScope
CoreGas
Illawarra Innovative Industries Network
Illawarra Company
TAFE Teachers Association
Wollongong City Council
Premier Illawarra Bus
Hyzon Engines
Many interveners also presented briefs to the parliamentary inquiry.
