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Queensland’s new government had scrapped the Burdekin hydro scheme, but there’s still concern over the region’s future.
ABC NEWS (Australia)
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11/2/2024
Government has officially scrapped the Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro scheme in North Queensland, but residents west of McKay fear the LNP’s plans will still see the rainforest region at risk
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00:00
It was slated to be the largest renewable project of its kind in the world, but a change
00:08
of Queensland government has uprooted plans for the Pioneer Burdekin pumped hydro scheme
00:14
west of Mackay.
00:15
Gone.
00:16
Labor's hydro hoax gone-ski.
00:19
We don't for a minute think that now that this project has been canned that they'll
00:25
leave us alone.
00:27
The renewable storage project was key to Queensland Labor's $62 billion plan to get the state
00:33
to net zero by 2050.
00:36
Now Queensland Hydro says it's ceasing all non-essential works while it waits for directions
00:41
from the new government.
00:43
But there are also others in limbo.
00:46
Michael Seymour is a farmer whose Netherdale property was acquired by Queensland Hydro
00:50
in April.
00:51
Now with the dam the way it is and the coalition getting in, it's a question mark on what
00:56
happens now.
00:57
The Pioneer Valley was chosen after a statewide assessment that dwindled seven sites to two.
01:03
Some locals say they fear the Christopher Lee government's plan to build five or six
01:08
smaller pumped hydro projects could still see the Pioneer Valley in the firing line.
01:13
We feel like we've slayed one dragon, but we feel like there are many more dragons waiting.
01:20
Queensland's peak body for environmental groups is calling on the new government to release
01:24
the locations of the sites.
01:27
We have less information about these five to six proposed new projects.
01:31
They could have even greater impact on the environment.
01:33
For the locals who fought to save the region, it is unclear what happens next.
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