Borumba, Pioneer-Burdekin Hydro projects lose federal LNP support

Plans to spend billions of dollars on large scale renewable energy projects across Qld have lost the support of the federal coalition, with Nationals MPs saying they were “ruining the lives” of regional residents so those in the city can sleep easy.

Plans to spend billions of dollars on large scale renewable energy projects across Qld have lost the support of the federal coalition, with Nationals MPs saying they were “ruining the lives” of regional residents so those in the city can sleep easy.

The Federal LNP opposition is pulling the plug on support for a second planned pumped hydro plant in Queensland, less than a month after it refused to back one in the state’s north as a regional push against renewable projects continues.

The proposed $14 billion pumped hydro at Borumba Dam in the Mary Valley is the latest major project to lose support of the federal opposition, amid ongoing backlash against the planned path of high voltage transmission lines through Kilkivan.
Nationals leader David Littleproud made the announcement at a community meeting with a group of more than two dozen Gympie region residents who are pushing back against the impact of large scale renewable energy projects planned across the area.

These include the planned $14 billion Borumba Dam pumped hydro plant, and the $2 billion Forest Wind project proposed for the Tuan Forest between Gympie and Maryborough.

These include controversial plans to run high voltage transmission lines, needed to hook the dam up to a substation at Woolooga, across rural properties and farms across Kilkivan.

The federal LNP opposition says “not one federal dollar” would be spent on two pumped hydro dams proposed across regional Queensland if it is elected into government in 2025. Picture: Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan

The Wide Bay Hwy leading in to, and from, Kilkivan is scattered with signs telling state-government owned Powerlink the “gates are locked”, part of a wider push back against the projects over their impact on the regions.

Similar concerns have been raised about where the lines needed to connect the Tuan wind farm to the substation will go.

The South Burnett Regional Council proposed a moratorium on the projects in May given the backlash and concerns about their long-term impact on the region, although the measure has not been met with support from neighbouring Gympie Regional Council.

Questions continue to linger over the environmental impacts of the Borumba and Tuan projects as well.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek reportedly asked for a more detailed report into Borumba in 2023, and Forest Wind was delayed from an expected 2023 completion date amid questions on its impact.

Nationals leader David Littleproud announced the coalition’s position while addressing a group of residents at Kilkivan who have been fighting against controversial plans to run high voltage powerlines across their region.

On Monday Mr Littleproud announced the coalition would lock the federal coffers off to the project should it be elected into power in 2025, similar to its promise on the plans for Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro near Mackay.

“We won’t support Eungella, and we won’t support (Borumba),” Mr Littleproud said.

“There will not be one federal dollar spent on (Borumba).”

He said the Borumba and Forest Wind projects were plagued by secrecy, saying the federal government “were not being transparent with you about how much federal money is being allocated to this project”.

A spokesman for the Treasury said the Borumba Dam project “is a Queensland government matter”.

Funding for the dam was included in the 2023 federal budget.

The exact amount was not disclosed on commercial in confidence grounds.

The plans sparked backlash at Kilkivan, with residents across the region west of Gympie locking their gates to Powerlink following a contentious period in which the proposed path of the lines was decided. Picture: Christine Schindler

Mr Littleproud said the coalition’s policy – still yet to be announced – would include a mix of renewables alongside gas and nuclear.

He said politicians and residents of major cities pushing for renewable projects were doing so to “put their head on a pillow and feel good about themselves”.

They were not paying any mind to the impact on regional residents or even the environment, Mr Littleproud said.

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien, who attended the meeting organised with outspoken transmission line opponent and Kilkivan resident and business owner Katy McCallum, said the large scale projects were “ruining people’s lives” and driven by ideology.

He said the “only way” they would change their minds was from “blackouts, unreliability … or even more expensive prices coming down the line”.

Mr Littleproud said renewables would be part of a wider energy transition policy which would include gas and nuclear. The exact details of the policy have not yet been revealed.

Mrs McCallum, who has taken her fight against the state government and renewable companies to metropolitan areas including Sydney, said the Kilkivan Action Group had already received $47,000 in donations to help push their campaign forward.

She said there was a growing concern among residents these large scale projects were being rushed to a point where it would be impossible to turn them back.

Mr Littleproud said the coalition, if it wins government, would take it as a mandate from the country on nuclear power, which is currently still banned nationwide.
“We’re not against renewables, renewables will be part of our mix … but renewables should be in an environment they can’t destroy,” Mr Littleproud said.

“That’s on rooftops … not out here ripping up prime agricultural land, ripping up (peoples’) food security, driving up your food prices … destroying the very thing they’re apparently there to protect, the natural environment and habitat.”