Premier Steven Miles defends Pioneer Valley pumped hydro project in Mackay

The premier has defended the hydro scheme against critics with “no alternative whatsoever”, saying cancellation would mean Central Queensland missing out on “billions of dollars worth of investment and jobs”.

The Queensland Premier has forcefully defended the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme as it hits a milestone.

Steven Miles said if the LNP were to take government and cancel the Pioneer Valley Burdekin pumped hydro scheme, Mackay would miss out on billions of dollars worth of investment and jobs.

“Why don’t they want Mackay to get a project of this scale?” Mr Miles said.

“Nobody else has proposed an alternative plan other than this pipe dream of 70 smaller pumped hydros and two nuclear reactors. That’s not what Queensland needs.”

The fighting words came as the premier flew into town to mark five kilometres of core samples confirming structurally solid granite at the project site, presenting granite cylinders from nearly a kilometre underground.

Queensland Hydro executive manager Chris Evans, Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling owner Stephen Burt, premier Steven Miles, and Labour candidate for Mackay Belinda Hassan on August 9, 2024 in Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

He was joined by Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling owner Stephen Burt, a Sarina native whose company produced the samples and had been growing since taking on the hydro project.

Mr Burt said despite the concerns of environmental groups like Save Eungella, some businesses in the cloudy town were loving the cash contractors were dishing out.

“We’ve been up pumped hydro about 12 months now,” Mr Burt said.

“From what they’ve told me up there, ever since the logging industry got killed and the dairy industry got killed, they’ve had nothing to do, so they’re loving it.

“Now hydro’s coming, it’s brought another industry to town, there’s employment for people, houses are getting rented ... there’s heaps other companies.”

Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling owner Stephen Burt on August 9, 2024 in Mackay. Picture: Zoe Devenport

“It’s their new industry.”

Mr Burt estimated Twin Hills employees injected more than $20,000 a week into the Mackay region through purchases relating to the project, with $8000 alone in accommodation.

“We’re doing all our best to support the local communities, everything we do comes from the local area between Sarina, Finch Hatton, and Mackay.”

Mr Burt said they had paid about $1.8 million in wages alone to keep all the people here and had hired an extra 16 workers specifically for pumped hydro, though 80 per cent came from Mackay who “live and breathe here, play football here, have families here”.

Queensland premier Steven Miles, Queensland Hydro executive manager Chris Evans, and Labour candidate for Mackay Belinda Hassan with granite samples from the site of the Pioneer Valley Burdekin pumped hydro scheme on august 9, 2024 in Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

They were joined by Queensland Hydro executive manager Chris Evans and newly announced Labor candidate for Mackay Belinda Hassan supported the premier, with Ms Hassan stating she “would much prefer a hydro in my backyard than nuclear”.

Save Eungella had posted an open letter asking to meet with Ms Hassan, who said she hadn’t yet but had contacted them, noting she had only been announced on Monday and had unfortunately suffered a bicycle crash injury on the Sunday.

When asked if she expected the government to immediately release to the public the Pioneer Burdekin pumped hydro business case and environmental studies, Ms Hassan said she “imagined so” while turning to the premier who added “once they’re considered”.

Originally published as Premier Steven Miles defends Pioneer Valley pumped hydro project in Mackay