• Pioneer-Burdekin, proposed to be delivered by 2035, as the largest in the world.
• Project will drive reliable power for a clean energy economy, store renewable energy like solar and wind, and provide on demand power when Queensland needs it.
• 11 local community and community groups attending the first meeting of the new Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) today at Finch Hatton.

The Palaszczuk Government and Queensland Hydro are delivering on their commitment to transparent and collaborative community engagement for the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project, made possible by the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

The Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project SRG has been created to ensure that community feedback and interests are represented and considered throughout all phases of the proposed pumped hydro project.

The SRG will play a consultative role to the project to help enable the development of comprehensive analytical studies and a well-informed business case.

Quotes attributable to Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert MP:

“Community consultation like this SRG is essential to ensure the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project balances the interests of all stakeholders and delivers the best possible result for our mighty Mackay region.

“This is an exciting major project for the region that will mean business opportunities for local companies and thousands of jobs for locals - whether it’s electricians and technicians, suppliers of building materials, builders or engineers.

“So many businesses, workers and community organisations in Mackay can benefit from the investment from this major project, the biggest public project in Queensland’s history.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni:

“The Palaszczuk Government and Queensland Hydro recognise that meaningful, and ongoing engagement with the community is a key factor in the progress of the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project.

“We are listening to the experts and local communities as we advance the socio-economic and environmental assessments, to ensure we deliver great benefits to economy and our climate, so the importance of this SRG cannot be understated.

“But we can only progress with projects like this if they stack up against all of the stringent environmental and technical benchmarks, which is why we’re already seeing very strong community support on the Borumba Pumped Hydro Project in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Hydro CEO (Interim) Chris Evans: 

The formation of the SRG is an important step and milestone for Queensland Hydro and is a sign of the important role that the local community in the Pioneer Valley and Mackay regions can play and will play in providing feedback and input to the project.

“Members of the SRG have been invited on the basis of their knowledge, experience and their capacity to fairly and objectively represent the views of their particular area of knowledge in relation to the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project. 

“We’ve invited a range of groups such as the Mackay Conservation Group, Finch Hatton Progress Association, Eungella Progress Association, No Pumped Hydro Pioneer Valley community group and Greater Whitsunday Alliance as well as some individual landowner and business and union representatives to be on the SRG.

Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Explainer: 

Pumped Hydro Energy Storage is a proven technology that is a foundational investment in Queensland’s SuperGrid to provide 24/7 clean and reliable power.

The Pioneer-Burdekin project is proposed to generate 5000MW for 24 hours, equivalent to around half of the entire state’s peak usage.

Pumped hydro acts like a giant water battery:

• it uses electricity from the grid or nearby renewables to pump water from a lower reservoir into an upper reservoir when energy prices are low;
• when energy is needed, water is released from the upper reservoir into the lower reservoir, generating energy as it passes through a turbine; and
• hydroelectricity can be generated almost immediately and at any time, so power can be fed into the grid when it is needed.

Invitations to join the SRG were extended to organisations and individuals covering landowners, business, environment, Traditional Owner groups (both the Yuwi and Widi groups), community and recreation groups in the Pioneer Valley and Mackay regions.

SRG members are invited to join as volunteers and no financial remuneration will be paid to members.