Toowoomba’s Cressbrook Dam pumped hydro scheme to be bought by Stanwell amid LNP government’s energy shake-up

After the scrapping of the bloated Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme, an ongoing purchase of a different project has suggested what the LNP will use to start replacing it:

A controversial pumped hydro project involving Toowoomba’s main dam could become a key pillar in the new LNP government’s revamped energy strategy.

The government-owned Stanwell Corporation is currently in the process of purchasing the Cressbrook Dam pumped hydro energy storage scheme from proponents BE Power, after receiving approval from the previous Labor government to start negotiations last month.

The secretive project, which is well advanced through the Toowoomba Regional Council, would see the region’s largest water source used to generate 400MW of clean energy for up to 10 hours a day.

It is just 60km south of Stanwell’s Tarong power station — which is also a proposed site for a nuclear reactor by the federal Coalition.

It comes as the Crisafulli government made good on its promise to scrap the beleaguered Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project in the Mackay region, with Queensland Hydro arguing it would have blown out its budget by billions of dollars.

The LNP’s new energy minister, Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki, has instead banked on an undisclosed combination of smaller hydro projects to keep pace with its net zero commitments for Queensland.

David Janetzki, Treasurer, Parliament House. Picture: Liam Kidston

Cressbrook, which was first posed more than four years ago, would be Stanwell’s first pumped hydro project if a deal could be struck and make it a strong candidate for the LNP’s energy portfolio.

But the project has been criticised by both current and former councillors for its potential environmental and water security impacts in recent years.

Ex-councillor Nancy Sommerfield mentioned it in her outgoing speech earlier this year, urging her colleagues to consider the consequences for residents and neighbouring landholders.

“In relation to the pumped hydro scheme, I have strong concerns about that and I have voted against it every step of the way,” she said in March.

“The main reason I’ve done that is I keep going back to (the idea of) taking six gigs of water out of (Cressbrook) even when it’s mud.

“So it really worries me about what it’s going to look like when you’re taking six gigalitres out of 40, 20 or 10 gigalitres every single day and what that’s going to do to the ecology of that dam.”

Cressbrook Dam.

Deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff has also expressed concerns about the scheme, telling her followers on social media back in February she had voted against its approval.

“The project needs access to 6.4 GL of water from Cressbrook (our main drinking water source with a total capacity of 81.8 GL when full),” she wrote.

“Water quality impacts may include temporary reduction in water quality (and) there will be regular water fluctuation.

“Vegetation clearing may permanently disturb up to 122 hectares of suitable koala habitat (six times the size of Queens Park and) the project will require permanent clearance of up to 156 hectares and the majority of that is eucalypt woodlands to open forests.”

For his part, mayor Geoff McDonald would not give his personal opinion on the project but noted the state government should look at all benefits and drawbacks.

“All forms of energy generation need to be in the mix if we’re going to meet these carbon-zero targets (but) you need to look at the cost-benefit analysis with all of these projects,” he said.

“Council has been measured with its assessments, it’s only stage three now.

“The proponents have done a fair amount of consultation in the area around Cressbrook.”

Mr Janetzki did not respond to multiple attempts to be contacted.