A new milestone has been reached as the Sunshine Coast gears up to play a major role in one of Queensland’s largest clean energy projects.
Queensland’s Coordinator-General has declared the $14.2 billion Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project a ‘coordinated project’.
The declaration means a rigorous assessment of social, economic and environmental matters can begin.
The project, being developed by Queensland Hydro, involves building a new upper reservoir, as well as a new dam wall that will replace the existing Borumba Dam wall and increase Lake Borumba’s storage capacity from 46 to 224 gigalitres.
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It would have the capacity to generate up to 2000 megawatts of electricity for up to 24 hours at a time.
The community will have opportunities to comment on what should be included in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as well as Queensland Hydro’s assessment of the project and proposed mitigations to avoid and minimise impacts.
Geotechnical exploratory drilling has started on the project, in the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, which will help inform the EIS process.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles, who made the announcement to parliament, said the milestone marked another step forward for the project “and further progress towards our state’s future as a clean energy superpower”.
“Over the past year, we have led the nation in the construction of new clean energy projects, driving new investment and generating good jobs for Queenslanders,” he said.
“Our targets of 70 per cent renewables by 2032 and net zero emissions by 2050 are set to transform our infrastructure, energy system and economy.”
As the cornerstone piece of infrastructure under the Palaszczuk government’s
Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, the project construction will mean good news for Coast businesses and workers.
Queensland Hydro, at an industry briefing in July this year at Golden Beach, stated local suppliers and contractors could play significant roles in the Borumba Pumped Hydro project, which is the biggest infrastructure program ever funded by the state government.
That view was reiterated on Thursday by Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement Mick de Brenni.
Mr de Brenni said the Borumba project would be subject to the Queensland procurement policy “which means we’re looking for Sunshine Coast companies and tradies to be part of this big build”.
“Borumba will allow us to replace expensive fossil fuels with Queensland’s sun, wind and water – putting the Sunshine State on the map as a global renewable energy hub,” he said.
“Pumped hydro is proven technology, ready to go now, and has been supercharged by a $19 billion investment in our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, creating around 2000 local jobs and securing our renewable energy future.
“Because Queenslanders kept their energy network in public hands, they have the power like nowhere else in the nation to benefit from the clean energy transition.”
It was announced in August this year that two temporary camps would be set up to house the first workers on the Borumba project, which lies to the west of the Sunshine Coast.
The short-term camps will accommodate workers who will undertake exploratory works and provide essential geotechnical data to inform the approvals and technical design of the project.
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton said the development of pumped hydro energy storage would play a key role in the state’s renewable energy transition.
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt added that the state government was “continuing to pack renewable energy projects to deliver more good Queensland jobs and reach our renewable energy targets”.
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