What you said about true cost of Labor’s Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project

Labor’s Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project would have cost the state an eye-watering $36.77bn – sparking a war of words from Queenslanders. HAVE YOUR SAY

New State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie signs a letter to Queenslanders confirming the cancellation of Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro. Picture: Facebook

Labor’s Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project would have cost the state an eye-watering $36.77bn – sparking a war of words from Queenslanders.

The Courier-Mail revealed Treasury analysis provided to the new LNP state government puts the price of the controversial renewable energy project at $36.77bn.

It is five times what the state had allocated over the next 15 years to upgrade the Bruce Highway, and enough to fund $1000 in energy bill rebates for 14 years.

Queensland Treasury found the present value – if built today – there was a 90 per cent chance the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project would cost near $24.75bn.

However, Queensland Treasury analysis forecasted the project would cost $36.77bn by the time construction starts and it was operational near 2035.

Treasury’s assessment of the project cost in present value was less than the $27.67bn estimate in a Queensland Hydro Detailed Analytical Report.

The LNP government moved to scrap the project days after coming to power, and attacked Labor for keeping the cost from Queenslanders.

Newly minted State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie labelled the scheme the greatest political con job in Queensland’s history.

Then premier Steven Miles faces Eungella residents in April.

In September 2022 then premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the project would cost $12bn, but her successor Steven Miles said in February it would likely be higher.

Regardless, readers were quick to pile into the debate – some claimed it was yet another Labor lie.

Others said nuclear may have been a better – and cheaper – option

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

I have questions

John

Can we now have the true cost of Cross River Rail, please.

Clearly

And pales in comparison to the federal LNP’s nuclear plans – both in cost and time.

The right is never right

Need to show the map of the Borumba project that the LNP has agreed to go ahead with. You know, the map that shows it going through a national park. The QCC was concerned about the Pioneer valley project but now believes any projects by the LNP will be worse.

James

ALP – as usual have absolutely no fiscal competency at all and how the hell do you propose any project without a detailed cost analysis? How would the ALP survive in the private sector?

Labor lies!

Mort

We all knew that the costs were a joke. We have never been told the truth by the former Labor Government. Time now for the real truth telling.

The Joker 🃏

The Miles Government couldn’t run chooks. Yajustgottalaugh

Noel

Labor lies all the way. With 40 properties yet to have been bought the project with hold outs and lawsuits the land would unlikely to be available until 2032 or later, so no hope of completion until early 2040.

8 days pending is my record

Mmmmmm most open and honest gov ever. Glad they never held anything back and informed us of everything. Must be the same as all that well reasoned and released health advice that locked us down.

Perry

Labor should hang head in shame. Not only out of control spending or intentions to do so BUT deliberately hiding the facts. We were being treated with contempt.

Premier David Crisafulli in Mackay on Sunday.

Nuclear is the answer

🇦🇺 Colin Creamer 🇦🇺

Nuclear is the answer to Australians energy needs. The following is from the world nuclear power site.

Neil

And this is supposed to be cheaper than nuclear power

MrBiggles

We could build a new nuclear power plant for that price tag and build time.

RogerJ

And they and all their followers say nuclear is so expensive. Still waiting to see the eye watering cost of Bowen’s walk through the renewables.