Powerlink hosts new meetings over Borumba Dam hydro plans

Three options for a transmission corridor needed to hook a proposed multibillion-dollar renewable energy plant near Gympie to the state’s grid are set to spark fierce debate in rural towns.

Scott Kovacevic

2 min read

December 8, 2022 - 5:00AM

The proposed location of controversial high transmission power lines connecting a planned pumped hydro plant at Borumba Dam with regional substations is the subject of eight public meetings across Gympie and the South Burnett in December 2022.

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The contentious question of where high voltage transmission lines will run from a proposed multibillion-dollar pumped hydro plant at Borumba Dam has sparked a new round of public meetings.

Powerlink Queensland is rolling out a series of consultations across Gympie and the South Burnett in the next fortnight to discuss where the powerlines needed to hook the hub to the state’s grid will run.

Several proposed transmission line routes have been unveiled amid questions over how it will connect with the Woolooga, Halys and Tarong substations.

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There are three main proposed routes to connect Borumba Dam to Woolooga.

The first would take the lines to the east of the Amamoor State Forest, near Kandanga before running north through the Brooyar State Forest.

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Powerlink Qld has proposed several options for connecting high voltage transmission lines between the planned for Borumba Dam pumped hydro plant and the Woolooga, Halys and Tarong substations.

Option two would squeeze the lines between the Amamoor State Forest and Wrattens National Park.

The third choice would bring the lines west of Wrattens National Park, near Manumbar and Cinnabar before bending the lines back to Woolooga.

Minor variations are being considered for the first two options.

Three options are on the table also for connecting the lines with the Tarong and Halys substations.

One would take the lines north of Kingaham and through part of the Yabba State Forest, before turning south of Elgin Vale State Forest and running straight to Tarong.

The second option would take the lines south of Kingaham and then through to Tarong.

Powerlink Qld is exploring a significant part of the Gympie and South Burnett regions in its efforts to identify the best route for transmission wires between Borumba Dam and key substations.

The final proposed route would run the lines south of Jimna and through the Jimna State Forest, before turning west between Linville and Moore along an existing 275kV corridor.

The location of the voltage lines proved to be a lightning rod of controversy for the proposed $2bn Tuan Forest wind farm, which would need to connect to the Woolooga substation.

Residents potentially affected by the plan expressed frustration in August 2020 claiming they were unable to get a copy of where the wind farm’s lines were proposed to run.

Powerlink will be hosting eight meetings across the regions in the coming fortnight.

In a published flyer, Powerlink said the upcoming meetings followed a month of consultation in November.

“We’ve listened to the community’s feedback and have added more community drop-in sessions in your local area,” the flyer said.