Why everyone is talking about Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone

The Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone (BBAMZ) in Tasmania is capturing interest from around the world, with a spate of developers across Asia, Europe and Australia reportedly earmarking the site for upcoming projects.

The interest follows unprecedented activity in the area with half a dozen major projects making progress toward a final investment decision, including the billion-dollar Bell Bay Power Fuel Project.

Occupying 2,500 hectares the precinct is well-known domestically with 59 per cent of all Tasmania’s manufactured exports produced in the local area. More recently, the region has earned recognition as a hotspot for international players.

Susie Bower the BBAMZ CEO says the nearby deep seaport and sprawling industrial land are a drawcard for developers, both national and globally, many of whom have not hidden their admiration for the site.

“I had a Japanese gentleman ask me why we don’t have wind turbines everywhere in Tasmania, because we have so much vacant land here and such a good wind source,” Susie said.

“Of course, that gentleman may not have had the full picture regarding transmission infrastructure and related matters, but it got me thinking about how appealing Tasmania is from a Japanese perspective.

“Japan has a high population density and much sparser land availability, whereas here we have quite a bit of land for industrial use.”

Bell Bay’s talent pool is also an asset, with the area hosting decades of heavy industrial activity that has provided a steady workstream for generations of skilled workers.

“We have a 70-year heavy industry history, so our workforce is well established. It’s an asset and takes away a lot of risk for people wishing to set up their business here,” Susie said.

Untapped potential

While the zone has much in its favour including low carbon and green hydroelectricity, some factors are inhibiting its growth.

Water supply, energy costs, timing to market, developing market demand and new technologies have presented challenges, with some entrants facing obstacles and certain projects not proceeding.

Despite this, hydrogen production in the region is still showing promise.

“Following the Ministerial announcement, companies such as Fortescue and Woodside explored opportunities here, and while the region wasn’t fully ready at that time, the foundations for future growth are now being laid,” Susie said.

“At present, pure hydrogen is most viable for local use, but as transportation and export technologies continue to advance, broader markets will open. The perseverance of those producers who have stayed is a strong indicator of the region’s potential,” she added.

Thankfully, the water situation is improving with a recent change in legislation, in which water designated for agricultural irrigation in the Tamar Scheme can now also be used in hydrogen production.

However, Bell Bay has shifted its focus to hydrogen derivatives, Susie said.
“We are seeing great interest from green methanol producers, and the like, who recognise the area’s potential and aren’t held back by the same restrictions that pure hydrogen producers face.”

Meanwhile, data centre developers are overcoming freshwater constraints through the innovative cooling technology they employ, with some using non-flammable oil instead of water.

“We are already seeing interest from two data centres, signalling strong potential for future projects on site,” Susie said.

On the energy front, ensuring competitive prices is critical, and the government has a role to play in helping providers achieve rates that can compete on a global scale.

“We need prices to be competitive globally, because we are dealing with global companies,” Susie said. “It’s just not enough for the prices to be attractive, domestically.”

Circular economy and renewables projects

Bell Bay is also piquing interest from wind developers, with its existing projects now entering FEED phase. Most of the interest is coming from Asia, but Susie says it is an attractive proposition, globally.

Projects involving critical minerals extraction are also thriving at Bell Bay, with ABX GROUP making inroads on their commercialisation of extracted local waste.

“They have around 20 years’ worth of waste and they are well into their pilot project. The next step is to commercialise,” Susie said.

Meanwhile, East Arm Resources is seeing success with its quarry which was recently approved for an expansion which will make it the largest in Tasmania.

“They have won contracts in Western Australia and Fiji. They will soon be supplying the asphalt aggregate to resurface the Wallis Island runway, located east of Fiji, which is a really positive story to emerge from the area.”

Immersive skills lab

To further boost the site’s appeal, BBAMZ is spurring along the talent pipeline with a new Immersive Skills Lab.

The Lab uses virtual reality for working at heights, working in confined space, safety, white card and forklift training.

“It’s a blended learning model – a new way of embedding knowledge for people needing those qualifications,” Susie said. “For example, in the safety training, someone will first learn what PPE is and can then enter a virtual site and identify what specific PPE they need to wear for that site.

“Our first training cohort is with newly arrived migrants and then helping them into relevant industries, with the skills they need.

“Many countries have different safety standards, so it’s valuable for them to learn our approach and gain experience in a safe environment before entering a work site.”

Further insight

Sharing more on the opportunities and challenges at BBAMZ, Susie will present at the upcoming Northern Tasmania Investment Conference.

This year’s event will be held 3-4 December 2025 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Launceston.

Learn more and register your tickets here.

About Susie Bower

Susie Bower is CEO of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone (BBAMZ), where she leads initiatives in new energy and advanced manufacturing, delivering transformative outcomes for businesses, communities, and government.

Susie has built BBAMZ into a hub for investment, innovation, and sustainable development. Passionate about creating intergenerational prosperity, she champions projects that strengthen Tasmania’s economy and showcase the region’s potential on a national and global stage.