The recently elected Queensland Liberal-National Party (LNP) have cancelled Queensland Hydro's Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project, located in the Eungella area.
This mega-renewable project brought the energy transition to the forefront of our community in an incredibly sudden way. Now is an important time to reflect and learn lessons from how this project was planned and announced.
What will happen to the site of the project?
Some land had already been acquired for the dam. With the project now not going ahead, there is no certain plan of what will happen with each property purchased.
MCG has suggested to Queensland Hydro that some of the land could be re-vegetated, rehabilitated and added to the Eungella National Park. This could include platypus ponds and a walking trail.
What about other pumped-hydro dams?
The LNP said they will investigate the roll-out of smaller pumped-hydro dams in Queensland. We do not know where these dams will go, what they will cost or what their community consultation process will be.
The LNP have also said they will build more dams and weirs, for water storage. All forms of water capture should be properly planned for their impact on waterways.
We look forward to seeing and working with the new QLD Gov on their plans for water storage projects.
Will the renewable roll out continue to happen?
The QLD LNP have committed to stick with reducing Queensland's emissions by 75% by 2035 - and reach Net Zero by 2050.
To achieve these targets for a safe climate, it is almost impossible not to include renewable energy projects and energy storage. Renewable energy projects provide cheap energy, gives us independence of our energy as we're not tied in to volatile fossil fuel energy prices and is the technology needed for a clean future.
How was MCG involved?
Our group had a volunteer attend Queensland Hydro's Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG), along with other community members and groups. This volunteer represented MCG at these meetings and raised questions and concerns, feeding this information back to us.
We would like to extensively thank our SRG volunteer for their commitment to this work and representing MCG.
What lessons can we learn moving forward?
We urge the LNP to learn the lessons from the roll out and process of the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project. This includes:
- Better planning of projects for nature positive outcomes
- Listening to and involving community and stakeholders earlier
- Providing people with clear information sooner and more directly
- All infrastructure and development should go through a rigorous environmental and community assessment process, with projects ideally located on land that is already cleared or degraded.
The future is renewable and can be done in a nature positive way with the right planning and community involvement!
- 2024 Renewable Energy Events -
Learn more about the planning and the roll out for renewable energy projects with these events.
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Thurs 7 Nov, 6-7pm: QCC - "Renewable Energy Planning Reform" webinar
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Wed 13 Nov: CAFNEC - "State Code 23 webinar" (wind farm planning)
- Thurs 28 Nov: QLD Community Renewables Forum, Nebo