The people behind an enormous hydro project at Lake Borumba have asked local landowners and businesses to have their say on accommodation solutions, as the region braces for an influx of workers.
Queensland Hydro has released a registration of interest (ROI) as it explores ways to minimise the impacts that the $14.2 billion project could have on the area’s accommodation markets in the coming years.
It’s designed to lay the groundwork for collaborations with local businesses that have potential, proposed or known housing projects – either planned or working their way through the development process – in the project footprint.
Residents, landowners, organisations, existing businesses and social enterprises within the Gympie, Somerset and Sunshine Coast regions have been encouraged to apply.
The project will require more than 2000 workers during the peak of the main works and will need about 100 to 200 people to operate and maintain the facility once Borumba starts producing power from 2030.
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Project director Leah McKenzie said specially-built accommodation camps would be used to house some of these workers, but details around the timing of the peak workforce and how the large workforce would impact on the local community and housing demand was still unknown.
There is also likely be a semi-permanent growth in population in the area due to the project.
Ms McKenzie said there was a number of key questions and issues around accommodation that the organisation was seeking to answer with the release of the ROI.
“We’re looking to create partnerships with local businesses and property owners to find practical solutions that work for everyone,” she said.
“This is an important first step in developing a Queensland Hydro Accommodation Strategy in collaboration with communities, local government and industry to find the right balance for everyone.
“As we move through this transition to renewable energy in Queensland and embrace sustainable development, the projects will have a meaningful impact on regional communities and will continue to build diverse local economies that benefit the community at large.
“For example, there could be existing tourism businesses which have the capacity to expand or develop their current accommodation footprint over the next few years.”
Ms McKenzie said that while the project would bring significant long-term economic, environmental and social benefits, she understood it might cause disruption for the local accommodation market already experiencing shortages and constraints.
“As a good neighbour, we recognise that it is our duty to help address these challenges,” she said.
“To ensure sustainable, long-term solutions, we have opened this registration of interest for residents to provide input on the development of our accommodation strategy.
“It will remain open until Friday, December 22. This process will be repeated in 2024 for further submissions.”
Locals wishing to provide input can access the ROI via Queensland Hydro.
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