• 2 days ago
Government has officially scrapped the Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro scheme in North Queensland, but residents west of McKay fear the LNP’s plans will still see the rainforest region at risk

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00:00It was slated to be the largest renewable project of its kind in the world, but a change
00:08of Queensland government has uprooted plans for the Pioneer Burdekin pumped hydro scheme
00:14west of Mackay.
00:15Gone.
00:16Labor's hydro hoax gone-ski.
00:19We don't for a minute think that now that this project has been canned that they'll
00:25leave us alone.
00:27The renewable storage project was key to Queensland Labor's $62 billion plan to get the state
00:33to net zero by 2050.
00:36Now Queensland Hydro says it's ceasing all non-essential works while it waits for directions
00:41from the new government.
00:43But there are also others in limbo.
00:46Michael Seymour is a farmer whose Netherdale property was acquired by Queensland Hydro
00:50in April.
00:51Now with the dam the way it is and the coalition getting in, it's a question mark on what
00:56happens now.
00:57The Pioneer Valley was chosen after a statewide assessment that dwindled seven sites to two.
01:03Some locals say they fear the Christopher Lee government's plan to build five or six
01:08smaller pumped hydro projects could still see the Pioneer Valley in the firing line.
01:13We feel like we've slayed one dragon, but we feel like there are many more dragons waiting.
01:20Queensland's peak body for environmental groups is calling on the new government to release
01:24the locations of the sites.
01:27We have less information about these five to six proposed new projects.
01:31They could have even greater impact on the environment.
01:33For the locals who fought to save the region, it is unclear what happens next.

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