Early works begin on $500m glass manufacturing facility in QLD

Hundreds of jobs are set to be supported through the construction of a new glass manufacturing facility on the Gold Coast, with early works now underway on the project. 

The $500 million facility is Visy’s largest ever investment in Queensland and it is expected to support more than 600 construction jobs as well as about 200 ongoing operational jobs. 

“Queensland is currently a net importer of glass packaging and currently doesn’t manufacture enough to supply the local market. 

“When complete, it will manufacture 1 billion glass containers annually and support the growth of Queensland based beverage companies like Queensland Exporter of the Year Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Asahi, CUB, Lion, and Coca Cola,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. 

Not only will this new glass manufacturing facility make the State’s glass packaging self-sufficient, but it will also set Queensland as a net exporter. 

The Visy facility will also help divert about 40,000 tonnes of glass out of landfill. 

The new glass manufacturing facility in Stapylton is part of Visy’s $700 million investment in Queensland. 

“Visy’s $700 million investment in Queensland not only includes this $500 million glass and manufacturing facility but also a new $150 million carboard box factory at Hemmant and $48 million to upgrades at its Material Recovery Facility at Gibson Island. 

“This new recycling infrastructure project is great news for Queensland jobs, for Queensland manufacturing and for Queensland’s cleaner future,” Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said. 

In addition to manufacturing glass bottles, the new facility will also recycle glass from kerbside bins as well as from Containers for Change deposit sites. 

This initiative will divert an equivalent of 200 million beer bottles from landfill and increase the amount of glass the State can recycle from 140,000 tonnes to around 200,000 tonnes annually. 

“Recycled glass from the facility will be used to make sustainable bottles and jars for Queensland’s growing food and beverage industry. 

“Visy has advised that this new investment will be underpinned with long term contracts, ensuring operations stay in Queensland and increasing the sustainability of their glass packaging,” Minister for the Environment Meaghan Scanlon said. 

Construction on the new glass manufacturing and recycling facility is due to be completed in 2025. 

Once up and running, Visy’s existing glass re-manufacturing operations in South Brisbane is going to be relocated to the new facility at Stapylton to give way for the old site to be utilised as the International Broadcasting Centre for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – which is part of an agreement that will ensure manufacturing jobs in the West End will survive. 

“This is a huge coup for our city and will generate jobs through the construction phase as well as ongoing operation of the facility. 

“I applaud the State Government, Visy and all parties involved. Our city’s economic base is broadening with manufacturing now generating more than $7.6 billion in annual outputs. Visy will significantly add to this in the years ahead,” Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said. 

According to Visy’s Executive Chairman Anthony Pratt, the glass manufacturing facility will use technology that will help enable Australia to go from 30 per cent recycled glass content in bottles to about 70 per cent recycled glass content – a world’s best practice. 

“And it ensures that the majority of Queensland’s recyclable recovered glass containers from the State’s Container Deposit Scheme and kerbside recycling bins are remanufactured in Queensland. 

“This investment is made possible by the leadership of Premier Palaszczuk and her Government’s support for Australian manufacturing,” Mr Pratt said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Visy; AuManufacturing; Australian Manufacturing