Solidcast awarded $2 million NSW Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative grant to expand Wauchope site

Wauchope, NSW-based precast concrete panel maker Solidcast has been awarded a $2,033,000 grant through the state government’s Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative to expand its operations.

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According to a statement from NSW energy minister Penny Sharpe on Friday, the funding will help the Mid North Coast company increase production of its low-carbon concrete panels and lead to 25 new full-time jobs “across [the] construction and operation phases.”

Solidcast is part of the Building Heights group of companies. According to its website, the company’s fibrecrete technology has been used in Dubai, the Middle East and Asia over the last 30 years, can be made to have a design life up to 200 years, and uses 50 per cent recycled content. 

“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,” said Sharpe.

“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.”

Solidcast says that its precast system has been used in “large scale residential housing, structures within corrosive environments, marinas, commercial, infrastructure and high rise buildings.”

According to the NSW government’s website, Solidcast’s grant was through the Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative’s low carbon product manufacturing – construction ready stream, which offers between $2,000,000 and $20,000,000 per grant.

The project runs for four years and is listed as the only successful applicant from 47.  

Picture: credit Solidcast

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