$30b in ANZIP Pipeline for Wide Bay Burnett as Gympie Bypass nears end
The long-awaited $1 billion Gympie Bypass is less than one year away from completion, but there remains no shortage of mega-projects on the horizon in all corners of the Wide Bay Burnett.
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For years the $1 billion Gympie Bypass on the Bruce Hwy was the crown jewel of major projects, but finally the long-awaited mega project is less than a year away from finishing.
Its completion does not mean there are no big projects left on the horizon across the Wide Bay Burnett, though.
More than $32 billion in projects are still on the cards across the breadth of the region, from renewable energy to dams and even more major roadworks.
These are the projects still proposed for the region as outlined on the Australia New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline, which tracks and offers a snapshot of each project’s progress and its cost.
Borumba Dam Pumped Hydro: $14.2 billion
This mammoth project, which proposes to build a renewable energy plant at one of the Mary Valley’s most popular tourist spots, is moving steadily forward with tenders now open for proposed geotechnical drilling investigations.
The state government has committed $6 billion in equity financing for the project in its 2023-24 budget, the ANZIP listing says.
Its construction will include building a new dam wall, and a 2.6km tunnel at the site.
The pumped hydro proposal has not been without controversy, either.
Residents in western Gympie and the South Burnett have been fighting against the proposed route for the high voltage transmission lines needed to connect the dam to power substations at Woolooga and Tarong.
Environmental concerns about the impact of the project on wildlife in the Mary River have been raised too.
Queensland train manufacturing program: $9.5 billion
This program at Torbanlea, near Maryborough, will involve construction of 65 new six-car electric passenger trains.
It includes the construction of a purpose-built facility at the Fraser Coast.
A Transport and Main Roads analysis found the new trains would be needed in the state across the next 10 years.
The project was at the centre of a storm in 2023 after it was revealed its price tag had blown out by $2.4 billion, taking it from the $7.1 billion quoted on the ANZIP site to $9.5 billion.
Former Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the “current high inflation environment” was the reason behind the blowout.
Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro Project: $3.3 billion
The second proposed pumped hydro project on the list is a proposal to construct a 2000 Megawatt facility in the North Burnett, 75km southwest of Bundaberg, and repurpose the pit of the old Mt Rawdon gold mine.
The project would include the construction of water way tunnels between the dam’s two storage area, an underground power station, and the upgrade or duplication of the existing water line which runs to Paradise Dam.
It remains only a proposed project at this stage, a possible joint venture between the owners of the gold mine, Mt Rawdon Operations, and ICA Investment Services.
Forest Wind: $2 billion
This $2 billion proposal, which has been blowing in the wind since late 2019, remains in the works despite several twists and turns including the sale of a 50 per cent stake of the project to Tilt Renewables in 2023.
The project would involve building 226 turbines across state forest land at Toolara.
Energy generated from the farm would be sent to the Woolooga substation by high voltage transmission lines.
Initial momentum on the project stalled in 2021, but work continues on moving the project forward.
New Bundaberg Hospital: $1.2 billion
This newly proposed five-level hospital at Bundaberg would offer the growing population an array of upgraded and state-of-the-art services.
It is expected to start in 2024 and be finished by 2027, the ANZIP Pipeline records show.
The hospital would include an additional 121 beds, emergency department, and additional operating theatres, and will be built about 5km south of the Bundaberg CBD at Kay McDuff Dr.
Paradise Spillway improvement: $1.2 billion
This $1.2 billion project will restore the Paradise Dam to its original height after it was dropped by 5m in 2020 for the safety of communities downstream.
Initial work by SunWater has begun on these upgrades, with the Paradise Dam Rd being improved to allow access for heavy machinery.
Tarong West Wind Farm
The second wind farm in the pipeline is planned at Ironpot, 30km southwest of Kingaroy.
Once built it would include up to 150 turbines and have a 500 Megawatt capacity.
The ANZIP Pipeline says construction on the wind farm is expected to start in 2024 and end in 2026.
It is proposed to be the largest publicly owned wind farm in Australia.
Tiaro Bypass: $336 million
The next stage of fixing the Bruce Hwy’s long-known safety problems, this bypass would divert traffic heading north from Gympie around the township of Tiaro.
The four-lane bypass has been at the centre of a prolonged battle between advocate and LNP Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien and former Labor Transport Minister Mark Bailey after the original proposal only included two divided lanes.
It will divert traffic north of Bauple Dr, and reconnect near Wilsons Rd.
Detailed design on the project is expected to be finished in 2024.
No construction start date has been announced.
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