Treasurer Cameron Dick confirms $1bn for Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project
Cameron Dick’s big-spending budget trumpeted $1bn for a gigantic energy storage system in North Qld, but the money is all a ‘hoax’ claims the opposition.
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Treasurer Cameron Dick has promised a $1bn allocation for the massive Pioneer-Burdekin renewable energy scheme west of Mackay, but the opposition has labelled the cash splash a ‘hoax’.
The $1bn figure, trumpeted in the 2023-24 state budget’s Strategy and Outlook paper, is not listed in the budget measures or capital statement and LNP leader David Crisafulli has jumped to ridicule its absence.
“The government’s entire Energy and Jobs announcement hinges on the so-called Pioneer Dam,” Mr Crisafulli said in his budget reply speech.
“With no money in the capital statements for this project, the Pioneer Dam is the great hydro hoax.”
But Mr Dick said the $1bn was more than a pledge.
“The Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro project is in the budget in black and white,” he said.
“This is just a political tactic by the LNP to distract from their failure to support coal royalties.
“Their failure to support coal royalties means this project would be cut by the LNP, along with every other project in regional Queensland.”
The $12bn project would implant a pumped hydro system in the Pioneer Valley and a sweep of studies are underway to determine the cost and impact of the plan.
A final report is expected mid-next year.
It is understood the distribution of money for capital works will only follow when a construction timeline is established.
The government’s alleged $1bn injection comes as work on the scheme ramps up.
A six-month geotechnical drilling program is now underway at Dalrymple Heights, run by Alligator Creek business Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling.
Queensland-based joint venture Water2Wire, which also boasts a strong presence in Mackay, will deliver the project’s front-end engineering and design.
Pioneer Valley residents opposed to the 5GW scheme are forming into a coherent opposition movement via the Save Eungella Facebook group.
The group organised protests at the State Labor Conference in Mackay from June 2-4 and will hand out flyers at the Finch Hatton Show on June 18.
If constructed, Pioneer-Burdekin would store and dispatch half of the state’s energy needs with renewable energy through two upper reservoirs at Dalrymple Heights and a lower reservoir at Netherdale.
What do you think about the Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro project? Let us know below.
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