Petition opposes Queensland Borumba pumped hydro project plans in Mary Valley
A petition fighting against a controversial renewable energy project near Gympie has gained momentum despite initial project approvals.
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A Gympie woman is leading the charge against a controversial hydro project and started a petition which has gained thousands of signatures in just a couple of weeks.
Moy Pocket resident Sarah Stewart says the petition is to protect the Mary River catchment from the Borumba pumped hydro project, which she believes could “devastate unique habitats and species” in the region.
“The Mary River Catchment is a precious home to an estimated 150 documented species of plants and animals, all currently hanging in a precarious balance, many threatened by extinction,” the petition reads.
“Our vibrant ecosystem has evolved over centuries, establishing a delicate equilibrium between diverse species.
“Unfortunately, the proposed project threatens this balance and could potentially devastate unique habitats and species, some of which are already on the brink.
“These include a number of species specific to the upper remote regions of the catchment, which are highly vulnerable to human disruptions.”
The petition was started two weeks ago and had close to 5000 signatures at the time of publishing.
The Borumba Pumped Hydro Project is a 2000MW pumped hydro energy storage system at Lake Borumba, near Imbil in the picturesque Mary Valley.
Borumba dam and the Mary River are home to a number of endangered species such as the Mary River cod, the Mary River turtle, the Australian lungfish and the critically endangered white-throated snapping turtle.
The site was identified more than 40 years ago as having significant potential for a pumped hydro scheme.
The project has been plagued by cost and timeline blowouts (with projected costs increasing by $4 billion) and push back from the community.
Earlier this year, the state government announced they had considered downsizing the project to manage the increased cost, with hope they could bring its budget back to $14 billion, which was the original cost estimate.
A Queensland Hydro spokesperson said the project had received “key Queensland Government approvals” but approval under the Commonwealth EPBC Act was still pending, with recent public feedback under review.
“Queensland Hydro’s Borumba Project is advancing in two phases: exploratory works and main works,” the spokesperson said.
“The exploratory phase will inform site suitability and project design. Queensland Hydro has key Queensland Government approvals.
“Approval under the Commonwealth EPBC Act is still pending, with recent public feedback under review.
“Project design continues to be refined to improve cost and schedule certainty, while minimising impacts on the environment, culture, and community—without compromising the long-duration energy storage Queensland needs.
“Queensland Hydro values community input and regularly engages with local stakeholders.
“We believe the project is stronger when shaped by those who live and work nearby.”
They also said that if the project got the green light, environmental approval would be required before main works could begin.
It is predicted that the first power would be drawn from the facility in February 2033.
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