Norton Rose Fulbright advises the Council of the City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, on landmark organics business acquisition
Australia | Press release | December 2025
Norton Rose Fulbright advises the Council of the City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, on landmark organics business acquisition
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has successfully advised the Council of the City of Gold Coast on its first M&A transaction: the acquisition of an AUD$90 million organics processing business and facility in Yatala, Queensland.
The purchase of the business is a major milestone for the City’s newly established Advanced Resource Recovery Centre (ARRC), an integrated recycling and energy precinct that will divert up to 97 per cent of waste sent to landfill. The deal also represents one of the largest M&A transactions in Australia for any local government.
The transaction signed in October 2025 and completed in December 2025, securing long-term green waste recycling capacity and paving the way for future food organics recycling in the region.
The firm deployed a cross-practice team spanning projects, environment and planning, real estate, competition, employment and industrial relations, and banking and finance, to work closely with the City and the ARRC team to navigate complex regulatory, commercial and operational aspects of the transaction.
Norton Rose Fulbright projects partners Ren Niemann and Martin Irwin commented:
“We are delighted to continue supporting the Council of the City of Gold Coast on its ambitious journey toward a circular economy and sustainable future. This acquisition accelerates Council’s ARRC program and sets the stage for its next major initiative: a significant waste-to-energy project that is now ramping up, with our firm advising the City on this transformative project.”
CEO of ARRC Gold Coast Grant Gabriel said the facility represents an important first step in the delivery of the broader ARRC precinct.
“This acquisition gives us immediate, compliant processing capacity and a strong foundation for future growth,” he said. “It will enable us to explore food organics recovery over time, create new jobs and ensure the Gold Coast remains a leader in sustainable resource recovery.”
The transaction was led by partners Ren Niemann and Martin Irwin, and also included Tarrant Sewell (senior associate), Tom Grogan (senior associate), Paul Scroope (associate), Edwina Zhang (associate), Anisa Sakhi (associate), Suwen Fang (associate) and Mitch Hardie (lawyer) from the projects team; Rebecca Hoare (partner), Elisa de Wit (partner), and Juliette King (special counsel) from environment and planning team; Stephanie Giblin (senior associate) and Delfina Sutjiadi (associate) from the banking and finance team; Will Webster (partner) and Stephanie Wilton (senior associate) from the real estate team; Claire Forster (partner) and Jack Brown (associate) from the competition team; and Martin Osborne (partner), Bronwyn Hammond (special counsel), and Amy Parry (senior associate) from the employment and labour team.
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has successfully advised the Council of the City of Gold Coast on its first M&A transaction: the acquisition of an AUD$90 million organics processing business and facility in Yatala, Queensland.
The purchase of the business is a major milestone for the City’s newly established Advanced Resource Recovery Centre (ARRC), an integrated recycling and energy precinct that will divert up to 97 per cent of waste sent to landfill. The deal also represents one of the largest M&A transactions in Australia for any local government.
The transaction signed in October 2025 and completed in December 2025, securing long-term green waste recycling capacity and paving the way for future food organics recycling in the region.
The firm deployed a cross-practice team spanning projects, environment and planning, real estate, competition, employment and industrial relations, and banking and finance, to work closely with the City and the ARRC team to navigate complex regulatory, commercial and operational aspects of the transaction.
Norton Rose Fulbright projects partners Ren Niemann and Martin Irwin commented:
“We are delighted to continue supporting the Council of the City of Gold Coast on its ambitious journey toward a circular economy and sustainable future. This acquisition accelerates Council’s ARRC program and sets the stage for its next major initiative: a significant waste-to-energy project that is now ramping up, with our firm advising the City on this transformative project.”
CEO of ARRC Gold Coast Grant Gabriel said the facility represents an important first step in the delivery of the broader ARRC precinct.
“This acquisition gives us immediate, compliant processing capacity and a strong foundation for future growth,” he said. “It will enable us to explore food organics recovery over time, create new jobs and ensure the Gold Coast remains a leader in sustainable resource recovery.”
The transaction was led by partners Ren Niemann and Martin Irwin, and also included Tarrant Sewell (senior associate), Tom Grogan (senior associate), Paul Scroope (associate), Edwina Zhang (associate), Anisa Sakhi (associate), Suwen Fang (associate) and Mitch Hardie (lawyer) from the projects team; Rebecca Hoare (partner), Elisa de Wit (partner), and Juliette King (special counsel) from environment and planning team; Stephanie Giblin (senior associate) and Delfina Sutjiadi (associate) from the banking and finance team; Will Webster (partner) and Stephanie Wilton (senior associate) from the real estate team; Claire Forster (partner) and Jack Brown (associate) from the competition team; and Martin Osborne (partner), Bronwyn Hammond (special counsel), and Amy Parry (senior associate) from the employment and labour team.
For further information please contact:
Alex Boxsell, Head of Digital, Communications & Experience, Norton Rose Fulbright in Australia
Tel: +61 (0)2 9330 8165 Cell: +61 (0)414 985 556
