Editorial: Caution needed for green dreams

Saving the planet must include protecting local communities, businesses – and, yes, local wildlife too, writes the editor.

Site of the planned pumped hydro scheme

Politicians love announcing big projects. Labor MPs love it even more when the projects can be painted as being good for the environment.

That’s presumably why four state cabinet ministers – led by then premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – put their names to a media release in September 2022 headlined: “Pumped hydro projects to secure Queensland’s clean energy future.”

The announcement was an ambitious – and eye-wateringly expensive – plan to “transform Queensland’s energy future into a clean, green renewable energy age” by building what was then the $12bn Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro dams project – potentially the world’s biggest – at Eungella inland of Mackay, the self-proclaimed Platypus Capital of the World.

But the announcement is always the easy part. After it comes the inevitably hard graft of construction – and well before that, winning the support for schemes that may well be good overall for society but potentially highly disruptive to locals and the natural environment.

This is never easy. And by his own admission this week, Premier Steven Miles knows the state Labor government failed to properly consult with potentially affected local homeowners and traditional owners alike before its big-bang announcement. Naturally, they were upset.

Mr Miles admitted as much on his first visit as Premier this week to Eungella – to front a community meeting that got fiery where, amid repeated interruptions and jeers, he apologised for the government’s previous lack of consultation.

Good on Premier Miles for at least fronting up. His predecessor had a habit of avoiding such events.

But it is clear it is going to take much more than that to win over outraged locals to back in a project Mr Miles is relying on to meet his own renewable energy target.

There will no doubt be, in the near future, a lot of respectful listening to all local stakeholders and problem-solving of some tricky environmental challenges such as protecting those pesky local platypuses.

This job will fall to the government-owned company Queensland Hydro, which has been tasked by the government in building the economic and environmental case for both this project and the $14bn Borumba Pumped Hydro to the west of the Sunshine Coast. To give it credit, it has already established and holds monthly meetings with stakeholder reference groups for both projects and posts the minutes on its website. But it is clear from the reaction to the Premier’s visit that emotions are still running high.

This is a pattern in common with other renewable projects around the state, and the country.

Regardless of the overall benefit to the nation in terms of emissions reductions, disaffected locals are feeling overlooked or trampled on by the decision-makers who are rushing headlong toward our “clean energy future”.

Renewable energy and its impact on regional Queensland emerged as a key issue at The Courier-Mail’s Bush Summit in Rockhampton last August. Those attending the event were met outside by angry local graziers and farmers protesting over what they see as the free ride wind and solar farm companies are getting from governments so focused on their green credentials they have not imposed any real regulatory restraints on the rollout.

There has been similar strong opposition to wind farms off the Victorian coast and on isolated islands in Tasmania.

None of this is to argue against renewables, but it is to say to our capital city-based planners and politicians should, at least, make some effort to think through the local consequences and effects of actually following through with their grand announcements. Saving the planet must include protecting local communities, businesses – and, yes, local wildlife too.

PILL TEST TIGHTROPE

The reduction in the number of deaths of Queenslanders from drug abuse is clearly a worthy aim.

To this end the state government has announced it is opening Queensland’s first fixed pill testing site in just a few weeks. The new shopfront in Brisbane’s Bowen Hills follows the inaugural drug testing service at last month’s Rabbits Eat Lettuce music festival (the site of two drug-related deaths in 2019).

The controversial festival lab detected 14 unsafe pills and also played a secondary role of educating visitors about reducing their drug intake.

But it is a fine line the government is continuing to tread between ensuring community safety and maintaining law and order.

It is an area where the government has to get the policy settings right so it is not sending the wrong message on drug use.

Illicit drugs remain illegal in Queensland creating a policing conundrum around the new program with the government effectively, endorsing the testing but not the possession of some pills.

If the testing saves lives it is a great result, but consistent and coherent messaging must also be maintained so that the dangers of widespread drug abuse are not forgotten.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here