Glen Innes Severn Council has received confirmation from Local Government NSW (LGNSW) that its final outstanding motion from the 2025 Annual Conference, relating to the Australian Biochar Industry 2030 Roadmap, has now been formally supported by the LGNSW Board.
This update follows Council’s earlier announcement in November 2025, which outlined the strong advocacy effort undertaken at the conference and reported that six of Council’s seven motions were successfully carried during conference proceedings. At that time, the Biochar motion was deferred due to time constraints and referred to the newly elected LGNSW Board for determination.
Council’s original motion sought support for the implementation of the Australian Biochar Industry 2030 strategy, highlighting its potential to advance sustainability, strengthen the circular economy, create regional jobs and protect the environment.
In correspondence received on 24 December 2025, LGNSW advised that the Board has now resolved to support the motion with an amendment. The amended wording adopted by the Board calls on both the NSW and Australian Governments to support implementation of the Australian Biochar Industry 2030 Roadmap—where source material quality and the processes employed ensure beneficial environmental outcomes and contribute to negative carbon emissions.
The amendment to the motion recognises that biochar, produced through modern technologies, can have beneficial environmental outcomes.
Mayor Margot Davis said the Board’s endorsement completes Council’s full suite of motions from the 2025 conference.
“This is a strong outcome for Glen Innes Severn and for regional NSW,” Cr Davis said. “The amended motion reinforces the environmental and economic potential of biochar and strengthens the sector’s call for coordinated national action.”
Cr Davis also highlighted the environmental benefits recognised in the Board’s amendment.
“The emphasis on source material quality, modern production processes and negative carbon emissions reinforces the environmental value of biochar. This is exactly the kind of forward‑looking, sustainable approach regional NSW needs,” she said.
This advocacy also aligns with Council’s ongoing support for local innovation, including its involvement in the SEATA Pilot – a demonstration project in Glen Innes that tests emerging carbon‑negative technology capable of converting organic waste into biochar and renewable gas. The pilot continues to help Council assess the environmental and economic potential of this clean‑technology sector for the region.
Council will continue to monitor progress as LGNSW advances the adopted policy positions with State and Federal Ministers.
Press Release from Glen Innes Severn Council 23 Jan ’26
