Bella Creek Rd one of three upgraded in Borumba Dam hydro works

The historic $14.2billion Borumba pumped hydro project will create thousands of jobs and take years to complete - we reveal the first local roads to be upgraded as exploratory work gets underway:

Three Mary Valley roads are earmarked for improvements as exploratory works on the multibillion-dollar proposed Borumba hydro project get underway.

The state government has revealed three Mary Valley roads to be upgraded as progress is made on the $14.2billion Borumba dam pumped hydro project.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said in a Question on Notice response released on Friday, October 13, Bella Creek Rd, Yielo Rd, and a public part of Borgan Rd would be given “targeted” upgrades as part of the mega renewable energy project.

Bella Creek Rd runs to the north and west of Borumba Dam; Borgan Rd runs off Bella Creek Rd west of the dam; and Yielo Rd ends about 5km south of the dam, at the edge of the Imbil State Forest.

Mr de Brenni said the improvements were expected to include resurfacing, altering waterway crossings, widening, and re-routing for flood prevention.

Three Mary Valley roads (Bella Creek Rd at the dam’s north, Borgan Rd to the west, and Yielo Rd to the south) are earmarked for improvements as exploratory works on the multibillion-dollar proposed Borumba hydro project get underway.

Detailed designs of the upgrades has not been finished, Mr de Brenni said.

His comments came in response to a question from Gympie LNP MP Tony Perrett about what road upgrades were planned to support the first stage of exploratory works for the project now underway.

The project being developed by Queensland Hydro involves building a new upper reservoir, as well as a new dam wall that will replace the existing Borumba Dam wall and increase the lake’s storage capacity from 46 to 224 gigalitres.

What is pumped hydro and how will it change Borumba Dam?

The state government allocated $6 billion for the project in its 2023-24 budget, Mr de Brenni said.

Road improvements were “expected” to be carried out by the Gympie and Somerset Regional Councils “who will be responsible for all safety requirements and impact mitigation”.

It was expected these works would start by the end of 2023, he said.

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