New Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed the LNP has scrapped the Labor government’s controversial Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project proposed for the Eungella region, 75km west of Mackay.
The Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project would have been the largest renewables project of its kind in the world, and was selected due to its favourable topography and proximity to high-quality wind and solar generation sources in the Central and Northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zones.
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Queensland Hydro purchased land from 57 landowners in the Eungella area in April. With the cancellation of the project, these landowners will now be invited to buy their land back.
“It never stacked up financially, it never stacked up environmentally, it didn’t have Traditional Owner consent,” Crisafulli said.
Instead, the LNP says it will build a number of smaller pumped hydro plants at yet-to-be-determined locations.
“We have to find a way to deliver smaller, more manageable pumped hydro because it’s important if you’re going to firm up renewables, you need that,” Crisafulli said.
The Queensland Conservation Council wants the new government to release details of those plans as a priority.
Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said, “It’s really important that the new State Government is upfront about which pumped hydro projects they’re considering. Queenslanders want to know they’re serious about getting on with the energy transition, but also critically, we need to be able to assess the potential environmental impacts of their plans.
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“Transparency is vital so Queenslanders can make an informed decision. Unfortunately, the debate about Pioneer Burdekin became a political one as opposed to one based on data.
“The worst outcome would be if the cumulative environmental impact and cost of building multiple smaller pumped hydro projects is significantly greater. We can’t know that until the LNP Government is upfront about their plans.”
