Pumped hydro will be central to Queensland's energy and jobs plans, but locals are concerned
More than a billion dollars has been spent on two proposed hydro projects in Queensland. The Borumba and pioneer-burdekin pumped hydro projects could collectively generate enough electricity to power the whole state for a day. But a looming state election could delay the project.
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00:00And we're about to embark on a huge environmental wipeout to somehow save the world.
00:14The race towards renewable energy is on.
00:17With coal-fired power set to be phased out by 2035, two big projects are shifting into
00:24focus.
00:26The world's biggest pumped hydro proposal, the Pioneer Burdekin in north Queensland and
00:32Barumba in the southeast.
00:34There must be a win for nature as well as a win for climate.
00:38The Pioneer Valley west of Mackay is known for its rainforest and abundance of wildlife.
00:46We shouldn't be looking at projects for renewables in areas of pristine, unique biodiversity.
00:53It's this extraordinary landscape that lured Jim and Wynne Arnold here 20 years ago.
00:59Their home is now in the path of the Pioneer Burdekin project.
01:03We've had our moments of anger, disbelief.
01:07The project's environmental and geotechnical reports aren't expected until later in the
01:13year.
01:14Yet already 53 properties have been purchased by Queensland Hydro at a cost of $43 million.
01:22There should be studies done first, then community engagement, then land acquisition.
01:26So it's all being done back to front.
01:30Pumped hydro generates electricity by moving water quickly between two or more large reservoirs.
01:37Our intention is to submit a very robust business case later this year.
01:41And after that, obviously then there will be a lot more information that we can provide
01:45to the community.
01:48It's been 40 years since a pumped hydro project was built in Queensland.
01:53Wyvenhoe Pump Storage was commissioned in 1984, while the privately developed Kidston
01:59Pumped Hydro in the northwest will come online next year.
02:04There's an entire industry that's looking to leverage off the work that we're doing.
02:09The Pioneer Burdekin proposal is for three water reservoirs to be delivered by 2035 at
02:16a cost of $12 billion.
02:19The Miles government wants the $14 billion Barumba project producing electricity by 2030,
02:27in line with its deadline to have 50% of Queensland powered by renewable energy.
02:37Ernie Frams will have transmission lines running through his cattle property.
02:43We don't want the power line here.
02:45It should have went straight through the top of the forestry, where it wasn't going
02:50to impact anyone.
02:53Once complete, both projects have the potential to store a combined seven gigawatts of electricity.
03:00That's enough to power the whole of Queensland for a day.
03:07More than a billion dollars has already been spent on both projects, which still need formal
03:13state government approval.
03:14But it's the cost to communities that has residents vowing to continue the fight.
03:20Cheers.
03:21Cheers.
03:22We're playing with people's lives, livelihoods, doesn't sound right to me.