State Government Minister for Energy, Mick de Brenni, has announced Labor will keep their final investment decision for the contentious $12 billion Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Scheme a secret until after this year’s October election.
The Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project was labelled as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Labor’s renewable energy plan, despite the scheme flooding 937 hectares – or 1,753 football fields – of pristine rainforest wilderness and prime agricultural land in the Eungella, Netherdale and Pioneer Valley region.
Federal Member for Capricornia and staunch advocate for saving Eungella, Michelle Landry, said the latest revelation from state Labor proves they are not willing to be honest about the project.
“I have been campaigning against this ridiculous pumped hydro project since the former Premier announced the plans in 2022. As part of my campaign, I launched a petition to prove that people do not want this beautiful part of the world destroyed in the name of Labor’s reckless race to unrealistic renewable targets. The petition has garnered over 10,000 signatures from right across Queensland.
“This is quite clearly a political decision to take away the opportunity for locals in the Mackay region to have their say against the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro. By delaying their decision until after the October election, they are taking the opportunity away from Queenslanders to make an informed decision on what exactly the next four years will look like under another term of Labor,” Ms Landry said.
Former Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, touted the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project as being the ‘world’s largest’ and would cost $12 billion. However, with more detailed financial modelling to come through, this cost is expected to balloon as has been the case with other pumped hydro projects.
“Labor is fully prepared to throw Queenslanders into the abyss of debt in order to make those living in the city happy about using renewable energy. Queenslanders, particularly those living in the region where this pumped hydro scheme is being planned for, deserve the right to know exactly what they will be voting for at the polling booths come October,” stated Ms Landry.
