Netherdale residents plot early moves to oppose $12bn Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro

It’s early days in the approaching David and Goliath battle between Pioneer Valley residents and the state government over its massive $12bn Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro proposal, but some early moves are already under way.

Pioneer Valley residents opposed to the state government’s mammoth $12bn pumped hydro scheme have moved from shock and fury to begin plotting their pushback.

Meeting at the home of Netherdale landholders Ron and Debbie Pearson, a dozen residents mingled with Capricornia MP Michelle Landry and outlined some early moves.

Leila Verban, founder of the popular NO Hydro Save Netherdale/EungellaMt Dalrymple Facebook group, said she was planning a rally in Mackay in November.

An early information campaign is also in the works, designed to emphasise to the general public what the residents see as the approaching destruction of Eungella to make way for the scheme.

(From left to right) Leila Verban, Mandy Tennent and Imogen Tennent show off their 'Damn the Dam' earrings from Chickery Chick at the Pearsons' home at Netherdale on November 2, 2022. Picture: Duncan Evans

“This campaign for us is mostly about information,” Mrs Verban said.

“Most people do not realise where Netherdale is and the same for Mt Dalrymple.

“Helping people to understand it is smack bang in the middle of Eungella is a big deal for us.”

The state government is committed to seeing the project through and Energy Minister Mick de Brenni, speaking in Mackay in October, said there was a “very very high” likelihood the project would proceed.

“We are very confident,” he said.

“We have some important studies to do, geological studies.

“We think unless there is something that is very unlikely underground that we are not aware of, then the project will proceed.”

Ms Landry, however, believes “people power” could up-end the government’s plans with a focused messaging campaign.

“I have run a lot of successful campaigns and that is always the thing to do,” she said.

“Focus on a couple of major issues with it and Eungella is the jewel in the crown.

“If we talk about everything else around it, people do not understand that, the message gets too messy.

“So it has got to be focused on Eungella, what the whole community is going to lose with that.”

A map showing the three reservoirs and affected properties for the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme. Picture: Queensland Hydro

Queensland Hydro CEO Chris Evans has said the project would have only a minimal impact on Eungella National Park.

“The reservoirs or inundation areas caused by lower and upper reservoirs are primarily on farming land, cattle grazing land, there are pockets of vegetation and we do have to do environmental studies to understand that, but it is certainly not having a direct impact on the national park,” he said.

“The tunnels and the power station are all underground, under the national park and will not have a surface impact.”

The “battery of the north” announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in September serves as a linchpin for a broader $62bn plan to reconfigure the state’s energy system and move it onto a renewables base.

The scheme will link two upper reservoirs and a lower reservoir at Netherdale with underground tunnels and a powerhouse to generate 5GW of energy.

Pioneer Valley business appears to back the growing opposition movement.

‘Damn the dam’ earrings are now on sale from Chickery Chick, a small accessories business.

All profits from the earrings will be funnelled to the anti-hydro movement.

Mrs Verban and Mandy and Imogen Tennent wore the black background with white lettering earrings on the day.

Ron and Debbie Pearson's home is close to where the tunnels for the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme are expected to emerge at Netherdale. Picture: Duncan Evans

The Pearsons, whose property is close to where the tunnels are expected to emerge linking the reservoirs, and their neighbour John Sempf spoke about their opposition to the project.

“This was going to be my forever home,” Mr Sempf said, whose property will also be inundated.

“It is a total waste of Queenslanders’ money and resources.

“We are being sold a Model T car project for a Rolls Royce price.”

Mrs Pearson said land valuers were already assessing impacted properties in the area but she and Ron had not yet allowed them onto their 119-hectare property.

“At the moment we are saying no,” she said.

The Pearsons have six children and had plans to transform their property into an eco-tourist hub.

Mrs Pearson said she and her husband were numb for three weeks after the announcement but had since moved to a different footing.

“We are just going to have to suck it up and fight it,” she said.

Originally published as Netherdale residents plot early moves to oppose $12bn Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro