Labor says Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro decision date unknown
Whether or not the world’s largest pumped hydro scheme is going ahead in North Queensland may not be known until after the October state election, it can be revealed. DETAILS.
Mackay
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Whether or not the world’s largest pumped hydro scheme is going ahead in Queensland may not be known until after the October state election, it can be revealed.
The Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project, proposed to be built in the Pioneer Valley about 70km west of Mackay, is the centrepiece of Labor’s renewable energy plan and will enable it to shut down five coal-fired power stations, slash emissions by 75 per cent, and reach an 80 per cent renewable energy target by 2035.
It is understood the government was to make a final investment decision on the project by mid-2024 but Energy Minister Mick de Brenni on Wednesday conceded it may not happen until after the October 26 election.
“There’s a series of studies … to be undertaken before we can put a price tag on that and make that investment decision,” Mr de Brenni said.
A spokeswoman for Mr de Brenni said the detailed analytical report, which will inform whether the project continues, was on track to be received by mid-year.
This publication asked the minister how long the government would need after receiving the report to make its decision but no clarity was given.
Initial estimates put the pumped hydro scheme at $12 billion but that figure could balloon after detailed financial modelling is complete.
A proposed timeline for scheme released last year showed preliminary engineering and environmental investigations were to wrap up by December.
But Mr de Brenni revealed drilling and exploration works were still ongoing as well as biodiversity assessments – the latter a particular sore point for Valley residents who claim the pumped hydro would destroy hundreds of platypus.
He said the government would not rush one of the largest infrastructure projects to ever delivered in Australia without all the information available.
“There are no delays,” Mr de Brenni said.
This publication asked Mr de Brenni whether the analytical report would be made available to the public but no answer was provided.
Capricornia MP Michelle Landry alleged Labor was delaying its decision to prevent Mackay region residents from having their say at the ballot box.
“They are taking the opportunity away from Queenslanders to make an informed decision on what exactly the next four years will look like under another term of Labor,” Ms Landry said.
Premier Steven Miles said Mr de Brenni and his team were working as hard as possible to fast-track the “world-leading” project that was critical to energy storage when there was an overlap of shade and no wind “for days on end”.
Ms Landry, who launched a petition against the project, slammed the urgency as a “reckless race to unrealistic renewable energy targets”.
The Labor government committed $1bn in last year’s budget for feasibility studies on Pioneer-Burdekin as well as $6 billion for the more advanced Borumba pumped hydro energy storage project near Gympie.
It has also already spent close to $22 million snapping up 29 properties across the Pioneer Valley to prepare for the dam scheme.
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