This City Scan assessed the potential of the region’s circular economy, which is designed to help identify business opportunities and any issues or gaps that need to be addressed through further data exploration and stakeholder collaboration.

This is the first of its kind in Australia. The approach was developed in the Netherlands and used in cities such as Amsterdam and Prague.

The report from the City Scan tool outlines areas of the local economy that should be a focus for circular economy engagement. This included mining and utilities, manufacturing, trade and transport, accommodation and food service, agriculture, and construction sectors. It also identified five key outcomes to progress the regional transition towards a more circular economy:

• Increased engagement with industry around circular opportunities
• Improving data collections and interpretation
• Better understanding of the risks
• Working collaboratively to improve our supply chains
• Developing education on the circular economy