Mackay Mayor wants briefing on Pioneer-Burdekin Hydro project
A mayor has called for ‘openness’ from the State Government amid shock news a community in his district could be wiped out to make way for a multi-billion-dollar renewable energy project.
Mackay
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Mackay mayor Greg Williamson has called for more “openness” from the State Government after the bombshell news a community could be wiped out to make way for its $12bn clean energy project.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hyrdo project on Thursday which, if it goes ahead, will include the relocation of 50 homes at Netherdale.
The project, 75km west of Mackay, outlines three dams including two upper reservoirs in the Burdekin catchment that feed into a lower reservoir below Netherdale – the news has left members of the community shell-shocked.
“I learned at the presser that there were 50 properties going to be either resumed or at risk,” Cr Williamson said, referring to the Premier’s announcement in Mackay.
“We were blindsided … like everyone else.
“As far as I know the local branch of state government here in Mackay also knew nothing about it.”
“I think it lacks a little bit of openness and the democracy of what the government should be doing by not including council first up.
Cr William said it would have been nice for state government “to bring the council into the cone of silence earlier on”.
“We’ve asked the state development department and Queensland Hydro to come and give a briefing,” he said, adding the “details were scant”.
“Obviously this has been going on for some time.
“That’s not conducive to open government.”
The Pioneer-Burdekin plan is estimated to cost $12bn — and a total of $270m has already been committed for the project to be progressed.
Ms Palaszczuk in her announcement said Queensland’s plan was to get 70 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2032, and 80 per cent by 2035 – to achieve this included building a new pumped hydro-electric plant west of Mackay by 2035.
“On the surface it looks like a very visionary project for the government to reach its target, but we’ve asked the state development department and Queensland Hydro to come and give a briefing to council,” Cr Williamson said.
“And while it’s easy to talk up a project of this magnitude and while we wouldn’t want to be looking at … $12bn in the eye and saying no thanks, we just need to know the details … the impact on our community.”
These questions include where the workers who would be involved in the construction of the large scale project would live – the region was already in the midst of a housing crisis.
“There are a lot of questions that need to be posed and answered,” he said.
“They (state government) might say ‘it is none of your business’.
“I’m saying ‘it is out business because this is our community’.”
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