Creating the World’s Most Circular Valley
A vision for place-based circularity in the Bega Valley and beyond
A summary | March 2026
This document provides a high-level overview of our vision, approach, key current projects and partnerships. A more comprehensive document is available that provides additional detail on all these areas as well as expanding on the potential we see for deeper collaboration with circular leaders in Australia and overseas.
David Rogers Photography | The Bega Circular Valley
Creating the World’s Most Circular Valley
In 2021 we began the multi-generational journey to make the Bega Valley a region ideally placed geographically and socio-economically to be Australia’s ‘Living Lab’ for circularity ‘The Most Circular Valley in the World’.
Built on comprehensive collaboration, testing and sharing, this ambitious vision will see the Bega Valley become an even more vibrant, sustainable and resilient community for all those who live, work and visit here, whilst acting as a ‘beacon’ of circularity for other communities around the world.
Led by the Regional Circularity Co operative (RCC), this drive towards a more circular future is fuelled by two things: the Bega Circular Valley (BCV) program and National Circularity Centre (NCC).
An award-winning collaborative approach, with global reach
Powering both these initiatives is our award winning co operative structure* which sees 14 core members and more than 50 partners working together to demonstrate what a place-based circular economy looks like, and the economic, social and environmental benefits it brings.
With Bega Group as the driving force, we have successfully built collaborations across community, business, government and academia including via a leading role in the global CARe Alliance – and are extremely proud of the the impact we have already had locally, nationally and internationally.
However, given the ever-growing levels of widespread interest in our work and the opportunity this presents to accelerate our circular transition efforts, we now need to scale up on all fronts. A task that will require even greater collaboration, including through the forging of new kinds of partnership with circular leaders in Australia and around the world.
* In 2024 the Bega Circular
Valley program won the inaugural Australian Design Council Impact Award
David Rogers Photography | Looking north from Bermagui towards Gulaga Mountain
A pragmatic action based program to deliver change
While the theory behind circularity is simple, changing the embedded linear economy we live in is incredibly complex. We look to work within that complexity and find pragmatic solutions that demonstrate circularity to all.
Over the last four years we have developed a clear strategic framework to guide us, a circular blueprint that identifies 24 interconnected work areas (from agriculture to tourism; construction to education; business to arts and culture) and a growing transition network that seeks to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive transition.
We have done this whilst keeping our day to-day focus on implementing projects that convert theory to delivery and apply and test the best science available.
Multiple ongoing projects that ‘show not tell’
We are currently driving or partnering in more than 40 projects in the region, ranging from a world-leading Regional Circularity Baselining project with CSIRO to an on farm Natural Capital Insetting pilot; from implementation of a Circular Education Strategy to developing a Net Zero Energy Roadmap.
We also support many of the inspiring circular entrepreneurs and businesses in the region who are already ‘doing circularity’, as well as engaging with the varied communities of the Bega Valley to bring them along on the circularity journey.
David Rogers Photography | Parbery Farm near Jellat Jellat
Building Australia’s National Circularity Centre (NCC)
Led by the RCC, the NCC is in the early stages of construction and is due to open in late 2027.
The centre will showcase the accelerating circular transition of the Bega Valley and other leading regions, and act as a beacon for circularity efforts across the country and internationally.
Primarily an education centre, visitors (young and old, physical and virtual) will be armed with the knowledge they need to adopt circularity practices both at home & in their businesses.
$27.5 million in funding has been provided to date by Bega Group and the New South Wales and Federal Governments.
See the NCC ‘opportunity’ document for more detail – available via info@begacircularvalley.com.au
An opportunity to collaborate at the forefront of circularity
Whilst we are already working with more than 50 partners and have an active network of 1,000+ people in the Bega Valley, Australia and Internationally, we have many more collaborations and partnerships still to build.
We have identified three priority areas for collaboration over the next 12 18 months:
1) The National Circularity Centre (NCC)
Support completion of the NCC as an exemplar of circular construction and/or assist with visitor experience development to drive awareness and adoption of circular practices regionally, nationally and internationally.
2) The Bega Circular Valley (BCV) Program
Accelerate the growth and impact of the BCV program as a ‘Living Lab’ through enabling the introduction of Circular Transition Brokers, investing in our communications capability or supporting one of our 24 work areas.
3) Bega Circular Valley Regional Circularity Baselining
Alongside CSIRO, Rabobank, Bega Group, local businesses and the community, partner in a world-leading Regional Circularity Baselining project with regional, national and international significance and impact.
These are just some of the areas of possible collaboration; we would welcome the opportunity to explore these, and others across our various work areas, further.
Select organisations can also become a core member of the Regional Circularity Cooperative alongside our existing 14 members.
See the full briefing document for more detail – available via info@begacircularvalley.com.au
David Rogers Photography | Biamanga Mountain and the Bega Circular Valley
National Circularity Centre Exterior (Artist’s Impression).
David Rogers Photography | Centre pivot irrigation near Bemboka in the Bega Circular Valley