The Board of Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has formally resolved to support a motion from the Glen Innes Severn Council regarding the implementation of the Australian BiocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More Industry 2030 Roadmap. This decision, finalized in late December 2025, follows the 2025 LGNSW Annual Conference where the motion was initially deferred for board determination. The resolution calls upon both the New South Wales and Australian Federal governments to support the strategic roadmap, aligning local advocacy with national sustainability and circular economy objectives.

The primary challenge addressed by this motion is the need for a coordinated, high-standard regulatory and policy framework to scale the biochar sector. Without formal government endorsement and standardized oversight, the industry faces hurdles in ensuring consistent source material quality and verifying environmental outcomes. Council’s advocacy highlights the necessity of moving beyond localized demonstration projects toward a national strategy that can effectively protect the environment while creating stable regional jobs and strengthening the circular economy.

To address these challenges, the LGNSW Board adopted an amended version of the motion that emphasizes the importance of modern production technologies and high-quality feedstockFeedstock refers to the raw organic material used to produce biochar. This can include a wide range of materials, such as wood chips, agricultural residues, and animal manure. More. The solution focuses on a policy position where government support is tied specifically to processes that ensure beneficial environmental outcomes and contribute to negative carbon emissions. This strategy ensures that industry growth is tethered to rigorous environmental standards, specifically focusing on the conversion of organic waste into value-added products through clean-technology sectors.

The outcome of this endorsement is a unified policy front representing New South Wales local governments in discussions with State and Federal Ministers. For the Glen Innes Severn region, this aligns with their ongoing SEATA Pilot project, which demonstrates the feasibility of converting organic waste into biochar and renewable gas. By securing LGNSW support, the council has elevated the biochar roadmap to a statewide priority, reinforcing the sector’s potential to provide carbon-negative solutions and economic diversification for regional communities across Australia.