BUDGET 2023–24

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP has labelled the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project a ‘hydro hoax’, saying Queenslanders have been hoodwinked by the Labor government.

The pumped hydro project was announced by the Palaszczuk Labor Government mid-last year as a green “energy storage asset” that would “transform the state’s energy system”.

Ms Camm said it was a project without substance, designed to placate inner-city voters at the expense of the people of the Pioneer Valley.

“There has been no business case and there is no environmental impact statement for this project, and that is why I believe Queenslanders are being deceived,” she said.

“The project’s feasibility statement was never really made public, and neither industry stakeholders nor local councils have been consulted or made aware of these major plans.

“We’ve been told this is a cornerstone energy plan yet we have not seen the Environment Minister go and inspect the Eungella National Park, which has more that 1,417 recorded species of wildlife in it.

“We have not seen a platypus management plan for this endangered species and its habitat, which are threatened by this scheme.”

Ms Camm said Queensland Labor prided itself on its green credentials yet had no qualms in destroying large tracts of rainforest and farming land in the Pioneer Valley along with the area’s endangered species.

“We’ve seen glossy brochures featuring images that are not even from the proposed Pioneer- Burdekin pumped hydro location,” she said.

“On behalf of the people of the greater Mackay region and given the importance of this project to the state, I invite the Environment Minister to inspect the Eungella National Park and speak with residents who will be impacted by this project.”

Ms Camm said despite a lack of consultation or approvals, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk breezed into Mackay earlier in the month to open a taxpayer-funded Queensland Hydro office.

“This is another example of wasteful spending and arrogant governing by Queensland Labor,” she said.