Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project releases visualisation of lower reservoir, dam walls

First concept images of what the controversial Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro dam and new view of the valley will look like can be revealed.

View of the Pioneer Valley, and how it will be changed by the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project's lower reservoir. Picture: Queensland Hydro.

Queensland Hydro “won’t be flooding” the Pioneer Valley when it builds a lower reservoir for the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro, its CEO claims, as the first-ever artist impressions of what the dam would look like are revealed.

The before and after artist impressions provided exclusively to the Daily Mercury show an existing and future view of the lower reservoir site, which if approved would be built at Netherdale in the Pioneer Valley.

The Queensland Hydro impressions provide the view from Goodes Lookout in Eungella, down the valley to where the proposed lower reservoir would be located.

Another impression released shows the location and scale of the lower reservoir’s proposed dam wall which would be situated near the Mackay-Eungella Road in Netherdale.

The surface area of the lower reservoir is about half the size of nearby Kinchant Dam.

The reservoir’s wall height — based on early design work — is expected to be 65 metres, similar to the height of nearby Teemburra Dam.

Queensland Hydro CEO Kieran Cusack said like all major infrastructure projects, the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project was attracting community debate.

“We have listened to the community’s feedback around needing more information in these early stages so we have released these impressions to show how the proposed lower reservoir would look situated in the Pioneer Valley, from both an elevated vantage point in Eungella and from within the valley at Netherdale,” Mr Cusack said.

“For the first time people can see for themselves a view and the scale of our planned lower reservoir in relation to the valley and adjacent ranges.”

Since the project was announced, an organised opposition under the ‘Save Eungella’ banner has pushed back, highlighting the unique natural plants, and animal habitats across Eungella and the surrounding region, which they are concerned will be hurt.

Premier Steven Miles faced the project’s critics at Eungella in April, apologising for the way the project was announced.

‘No construction within Eungella National Park’

Queensland Hydro says energy storage is critical to clean energy transition given the gradual decrease in generation from coal-fired power stations.

The Queensland Government’s pumped hydro report claims the only feasible way to meet our emissions reductions targets is with large-scale pumped hydro, particularly Pioneer-Burdekin, as the larger footprint means it can “store” much more potential energy.

The LNP has not backed the project, but when asked on multiple occasions how it would meet the emissions targets without Pioneer-Burdekin, it did not give an answer.

Mr Cusack said the photos made it clear Queensland Hydro ‘won’t be flooding the entire valley’.

“What you will see from these impressions is that there will be no construction within Eungella National Park and we have deliberately designed the reservoir to make sure this is the case,” he said.

“The dam wall for the lower reservoir will not be constructed to span from one side of the valley all the way to the other side, which is something we hear often.”

Mr Cusack said Queensland Hydro understood its responsibility for local communities and the environment was “front and centre in everything we do”.

“We will continue to work with the communities in which we operate to co-design best practice biodiversity solutions,” he said.

“We want local input into our plans. We know the community has valuable information and we encourage them to share their insights with us.”

Queensland Hydro clarified the impressions — which were developed from early design work — could change as work progressed.