Powerlink Queensland holds consultation over Borumba Pumped Hydro project

High-voltage lines for a proposed multibillion-dollar project have shocked Burnett and Gympie residents, with serious concerns over how it will affect private properties.

The Widgee community have raised the alarm after receiving a letter in the mailbox informing that powerlines for a proposed multibillion-dollar renewable energy project could cut through their backyards.

A proposal for high-voltage transmission line routes to connect the proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro with the Woolooga, Halys and Tarong substations has sparked fierce debate in rural towns.

Powerlink Qld proposed high voltage transmission line paths for Borumba Dam pumped hydro plant.

Powerlink Queensland have been rolling out a series of consultations across Gympie and the South Burnett to discuss and receive feedback on community concerns.

A consultation session was also held in the Widgee Community Complex on Thursday and Facebook page “Say No to the Lines” has attracted more than 600 members since it went live.

About 240 people attended the consultation session in Widgee between 3pm-6pm with about 150 going through the doors at 6pm.

Group advocate Shea Rule said the main concerns and arguments she had heard were the potential impacts on property value, lifestyle aspects and health.

Say No to the Lines Facebook group advocate Shea Rule called for the region to attend the session.

The most common alternative proposed by the community was to run the proposed corridor through state-owned land.

“State-owned project, state-owned land,” Ms Rule said.

General manager in communications and engagement Gerard Reilly said all of the proposed corridors already partially cut through state land.

“We’re more than happy to receive that (feedback), that’s the whole point of this engagement,” he said.

“We can go and put forward what we think is the best possible solution.”

Powerlink Queensland general manager Gerard Reilly held a presentation to the Widgee community.

Mr Reilly said impacts on running the lines through state-owned areas would include state government consultation and additional environmental planning around the State Forests.

A question raised during the presentation was why the route could not be run in the section between the proposed far-west corridor and the corridor running through Widgee.

Project manager Col Langton said there was “significant” terrain and “when you put it up there going from hilltop to hilltop... all you’d see is transmission lines”.

Col Langton and Gerard Reilly from Powerlink holding a consultation session in the Widgee Community Complex.

Ms Rule said Powerlink was “very slow to get the message out there”, with many community members voicing similar comments during the presentation session.

Mr Reilly said Powerlink had held 16 consultation sessions around the impacted regions since July 2022.

He said an additional eight sessions were planned within 24 hours in response to the concerns.

“We did hear loudly the awareness levels of these sessions could have been better, so we really have worked hard to improve that,” he said.

The recommended corridor option is expected to be announced in March 2023.

Subsequent consultation sessions are planned before settling on the final corridor in the middle of next year, Mr Reilly said.