Queensland Hydro opens a new office in Mackay for $12bn Pioneer-Burdekin project

Queensland Hydro has opened a new office in Mackay in a sign of the government’s growing commitment to the world’s largest pumped hydro project.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opens the new Queensland Hydro office in Mackay on June 2, 2023. Picture: Contributed

Mackay is now firmly at the centre of Queensland’s “renewables revolution” as Queensland Hydro opens a new office in the CBD to lead the design and development of the world’s largest pumped hydro scheme.

This comes as state government announced it would inject half a billion dollars to construct a suite of wind and solar projects in Central Queensland as part of its pledge to ramp up renewable generation by 2035.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opened the 15-person office on Wood St on Friday and said it would help drive the project’s coming jobs bonanza.

“The Queensland Hydro team has been on the ground since we officially kicked off the project last September and the creation of a dedicated local office will enable them to operate more effectively and efficiently in working with the local communities to develop the more than 3000 job opportunities this project will offer,” she said.
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni, Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert and Queensland Hydro CEO Kieran Cusack were also at the opening.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opens the new Queensland Hydro office in Mackay on June 2, 2023. Picture: Contributed

The $12bn Pioneer-Burdekin scheme, booked for the Pioneer Valley west of Mackay, serves as a linchpin for the state government’s plan to push Queensland’s energy system onto a renewables base.

If constructed, the 5GW scheme would store and dispatch half of the state’s energy needs with renewable energy by 2035.

A set of feasibility studies are now underway and a final decision on the project is expected after the release of a detailed report in 2024.

But Mr de Brenni said the new office signalled the project was gathering momentum.

“Mackay will be home to Queensland Hydro’s team of world-class experts who’ll lead the delivery of our state’s next major clean energy storage initiative, in partnership with local business, in a massive boost to the regional economy,” he said.

Ms Gilbert said the project would bring in “billions of dollars” to the Mackay economy.

“I’d like to welcome Queensland Hydro to our region and the Mackay CBD, joining the many significant industries that make our region a jobs and economic powerhouse of Queensland.”

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert and Deputy Premier Steven Miles in Mackay on June 2, 2023. Mr Miles promised a ‘fair settlement’ for property owners affected by Pioneer-Burdekin. Picture: Zoe Devenport

The project’s now-permanent base in Mackay comes as community anger over the project rises.

Save Eungella, a Facebook group with more than 4000 followers, will voice its opposition to the scheme this weekend at the MECC, with some Pioneer Valley residents enraged by the expected property resumptions and what they see as the possible destruction of the environment.

It is expected the project will gobble up about 50 homes in the Valley.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles, visiting Mackay on Friday, promised a “fair settlement” for affected property owners.

“Whether they want to sell up quickly and move on or whether they want to stay where they are until the last possible moment we will be able to negotiate that with them,” he said.