Jobs plan for Queensland Hydro’s Pioneer-Burdekin, Borumba dams

In anticipation of Qld’s two new pumped hydro dams and the SuperGrid, a new partnership will flesh out how to upskill regional Queensland and could train as many as 500 apprentices a year.

In anticipation of building the world’s biggest pumped hydro west of Mackay, a new partnership will flesh out how to upskill regional Queenslanders to bolster the workforce.

The $12bn-plus Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project, if approved, it will become the linchpin of Labor’s ambitious vision to phase out coal-fired power stations by 2035.

Queensland Hydro, the state government-owned entity overseeing the project, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mackay’s Resource Centre of Excellence to develop a labour force capable of both erecting and maintaining the hydro scheme.

RCOE CEO Steven Boxall said the multimillion-dollar Mackay facility was “ideally placed” to help transition jobs from the traditional coal sector to “new, clean, green energy”.

Resources Centre of Excellence CEO Steven Boxall, Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert and Queensland Hydro CEO Kieran Cusack announcing a memorandum of understanding. Picture: Fiona Kroll

Queensland Hydro CEO Kieran Cusack said it was also possible the RCOE could help train workers for the government’s other pumped hydro project at Borumba, 45 minutes southwest of Gympie.

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said both hydro projects would be key components of the unfolding SuperGrid which would provide Queensland with sustainable and cheaper power.

Energy and Public Works director general Paul Martyn said the SuperGrid, which would connect renewable energy projects in each Renewable Energy Zone, would require more high-voltage electricians to operate it.

Qld Hydro are in the exploratory phase of transforming Borumba Dam into a pumped hydro powerhouse. Borumba Dam, Saturday August 5, 2023. Picture: Christine Schindler

“We have two transmission training centres being set up, one in Gladstone and one in Townsville to train the next generation of HV transmission workers,” Mr Martyn, who is also Queensland Hydro chairman, said.

“At full capacity, they’ll be able to train 500 workers a year.

“It’s not only about new apprentices … but also about retraining other workers.”

The proposed timeline for the Labor government's Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project. Picture: Contributed

Mr Martyn said Energy Queensland, the government’s distribution company, was aiming to take on 10 per cent more apprentices each year for the next decade, and had already awarded 100 scholarships to engineering students to “build a pipeline of workers to build the SuperGrid”.

Mrs Gilbert said locally-sourced labour was part of the state government’s procurement strategy.

“These jobs, when this (Pioneer-Burdekin) project is approved, will go to locals first,” she said, adding they would work with Queensland Hydro, universities and schools on course and training options as they ticked off approvals.

Catch up on the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project with 50 questions answered: What you must know about Qld’s mega dam.

Catch up on the Borumba dam with Borumba pumped hydro explained.