DRI Slide Presentation June 2015
- 1. Dorset Renewable Industries Pty Ltd Community Update: 29 October 2014
- 2. Dorset Renewable Industries Pty Ltd “DRI aims to develop new industries for the Dorset region of North East Tasmania. Our community focussed enterprise will use the region’s renewable resources to improve the environment and build community resilience.”
- 3. Who we are We developed as a Community group well over two years ago from within the Dorset municipality in response to the economic situation in the region. We are one of the focus points for the community’s desire to help itself.
- 4. Our group David Hamilton, Chairman Lives in Lilydale Has extensive experience in environmental health and safety in the oil industry Karen and Ken Hall, Michael Brill, Dale Jessop Live in the Scottsdale area Represent community interests, forestry, saw milling, and forest products industries Wendy Mitchell Lives in Launceston Brings environmental management, and economic development and small business experience John Beattie Has many years of operational experience in food processing Alan Davenport, Heath Blair, Peter Bird Other North Easterners assisting
- 5. Objectives Establish a new forestry-related enterprise in Dorset to make the best use of existing resources. Deliver positive social, economic and environmental outcomes to the Dorset community. Use feedstocks that can be produced on an ongoing and reliable basis and give fair payment for them. Make innovation an important component of the enterprise. Collaborate and share knowledge and expertise. Create long term jobs and develop skills.
- 6. Program Ling Siding: vision for the site, grant application, and next steps Wendy Mitchell Ling Siding: refurbishment project Dale Jessup Volunteers, assistance and staying involved Ken Hall Establishing the integrated timber processing hub Michael Brill Ethanol plant update David Hamilton Ethanol plant resource assessment Jeremy Wilson Ethanol plant pre-feasibility study Martin Rees Funding new timber businesses David Hamilton Questions
- 7. Grant application The start of our vision becoming a reality – Wendy Mitchell
- 8. Grant timeline: June to Aug 2013 June 2013 DRI applies for two grants under the Tasmanian Forestry Agreement economic diversification process - $2.8M for Ling Siding and $1.6M for the ethanol plant.. July 2013 DRI attempts to prevent Korda Mentha from further dismembering of the Ling Siding site. 25 July, 2013 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announces that DRI’s application for $2.8M to purchase and refurbish Ling Siding is successful, subject to a “value for money” test. August 2013 Korda Mentha starts sale process for Ling Siding. DRI places indicative offer, dependent upon grant funding.
- 9. Grant timeline: Sep 2013 – August 2014 September 2013 DRI submits final bid for Ling Siding, together with letter from Tony Abbott promising not to cut the grant if elected. September 2013 Korda Mentha rejects DRI’s offer because of funding uncertainty. October 2013 RNG Property Developments agree to sell most of the industrial land at Ling Siding to DRI, subject to grant funding. December 2013 Details of “value for money test” for the grant released. October 2014 DRI submits over 400 pages of documentation for value for money test. 25 Aug 2014 Assistant Minister for Infrastructure writes to DRI confirming grant, subject to negotiation of a grant deed (draft grant deed is 46 pages).
- 10. About our grant Federal Grant - $2.8 Million plus GST. Strong oversight and management by the Federal Government. Grant can only be used for: refurbishment of the Ling Site. preparing the site for a timber integrated processing hub. Funding is: tied to milestones. cannot be used to secure or help set up new businesses. cannot be used for any purpose except refurbishment.
- 11. What does this mean? Once the site is made ready, it’s up to the community, private enterprise, state government, DRI, or a community co-operative to: encourage develop establish new enterprises at this site.
- 12. Summary DRI needs to: stay focussed on the proper acquittal of $2.8 million. ensure that the refurbishment funds are spent in accordance with the Deed. make the site ready to receive timber businesses that can mutually benefit by being on such a collaborative site. improve work opportunities and skills in the North East. increase economic hope and activity in the North East Region.
- 13. Ling Siding Refurbishment Dale Jessup
- 14. Ling Siding refurbishment Current condition of site
- 15. Ling Siding refurbishment Previous transformer yard
- 16. Ling Siding refurbishment Kiln and boiler area
- 17. Ling Siding refurbishment Inside sawmill building
- 18. Ling Siding refurbishment Condition of buildings
- 19. Ling Siding refurbishment Weighbridge foundation
- 20. Ling Siding refurbishment: project Major project components are: restoration of power to the site. making good all buildings. restoration of communication and IT systems. restoration of potable water and effluent systems. installation of a public weighbridge. restoration of site fencing and erection of new fencing. re-sealing 27,000 m2 hardstand area.
- 21. Ling Siding refurbishment: project management Project management requires: engagement of Project Manager. establishment of safety system. finalisation of scope of works. drafting of contracts for each project component. engagement of utility providers. selection of contractors.
- 22. Ling Siding refurbishment: key areas Key project areas are: occupational health and safety of all people involved in the project. management of environmental issues specific to the site. maximising value of grant funding. minimising economic leakage of funding by using of local contractors. consideration of rail trail traversing site.
- 23. Ling Siding refurbishment: not funded What the grant does not fund: refurbishment of the 20 MW boiler. activities to attract business to the site. replacement of buildings that have been removed. any components of the ethanol plant project.
- 24. Ling Siding refurbishment: outcome An industrial site that: has separately metered power to each area. has good road surfaces. has weighbridge capability. has scope for further expansion. is connected to the internet. is secure. has water and effluent systems. will provide ongoing opportunities for our community.
- 25. Establishing the hub Michael Brill
- 26. Future opportunities The opportunity taken: Ling Siding will again be available as a site where people are employed processing timber. What the grant funding achieves: Ling Siding as infrastructure.
- 27. Future opportunities - continued Hub concept offers increased resilience through: businesses working together, sharing common resources and services. minimising waste: maximum value is achieved from every log, regardless of its quality. many baskets for our economic eggs. Renewable relationship with timber and industry.
- 28. Potential timber industries timber preservation timber posts log peeling for veneer cross-laminated timber orientated strand pellets ethanol saw milling associated enterprises: engineering wood waste for steam enterprises soil conditioning: composting and/or biochar
- 29. Ethanol plant update David Hamilton
- 30. Overview Ethtec are developing a process to convert woody material to ethanol one of several “cellulosic ethanol” processes being developed world-wide. Ethtec’s approach suits smaller plants can use a range of feedstocks. DRI is considering the opportunity of a plant using Ethtec’s technology: located at Ling Siding. producing 30 million litres of ethanol per year. using 150,000 tonnes of feedstock per year from: waste. logs from local tree growers.
- 31. Local ethanol plant: advantages Provides local employment and uses local support services. Pays local suppliers for feedstock. Ethanol product is a renewable liquid fuel which: is able to be blended into gasoline and diesel. can totally (100%) fuel some engines. can be used to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- 32. Local ethanol plant: advantages Reduces reliance on petroleum imported into Tasmania: improved security of supply. reduction in economic leakage. Provides possibilities for non-fuel products: ethanol as a solvent. sugars for bio-plastics.
- 33. Status of ethanol plant Tasmanian Government (Department of State Growth) paid for a resource study by Esk Mapping and GIS. Tasmanian Government and Dorset Council jointly funded a prefeasibility study which was performed by KPMG. Ethtec are continuing technology development: pilot plant at Harwood in NSW has successfully completed Phases 1 and 2. preliminary work for Phase 3 well underway. DRI has a current Memorandum of Understanding with Ethtec giving us access to their technology.
- 34. Ethtec pilot plant Phase 1 and Phase 2
- 35. Ethtec pilot plant Phase 1 and Phase 2
- 36. Ethtec pilot plant Phase 1 and Phase 2
- 37. Ethtec pilot plant Phase 1 and Phase 2
- 38. Next steps Ethtec to: successfully complete their pilot plant project. decide whether process is commercially feasible. DRI or co-operative to negotiate agreement with Ethtec for detailed information about: the plant. the process (payment is likely to be required). Engineering and environmental studies leading to final plant design.
- 39. Next steps - Cont Set up arrangements to: buy feedstocks. sell the products. Formal, detailed feasibility study. If everything looks OK then money would need to be raised/borrowed to build the plant and Government approvals obtained.
- 41. Funding Establishing any new business requires money. Money will need to be raised to continue to develop the ethanol project. If the Dorset community wants to establish a new enterprise, then the community will need to contribute funds to help make that happen. The usual way for people to contribute to establishing a new enterprise is to buy shares in it: a way for the community to invest in itself. a way for profits to be distributed to investors in the form of dividends.
- 42. Co-operative DRI has considered KPMG’s advice about a suitable corporate structure that will enable: control of enterprises to remain in the community. funds to be raised from members of the community at reasonable cost. DRI has decided that it will seek to start a co-operative, with the objectives of: looking for timber-related opportunities (not just the ethanol plant) that would provide local employment and local economic development. getting wider community involvement in developing opportunities. We expect to kick off the process for starting a cooperative sometime next year after the Tasmanian legislation regulating co- operatives has been upgraded to a new national model.
- 43. Conclusions As a community we need to take charge of our own destiny. DRI have worked hard and achieved a lot since our previous community update. There are many opportunities in the wood, wood products and energy from wood area. The Ling Siding site gives us an excellent place to start the rebuilding, but we need: participation of locally owned businesses. a range of products, processes and enterprises to make the new timber economy as resilient as possible. A cooperative is the ideal structure for the community to use to build a better future.