Big-T Pumped Hydropower Energy Storage project

Project overview*

EIS statusEIS active
Description Development of a pumped hydropower energy storage project in the Southern Queensland renewable energy zone with the capacity to generate up to 400 megawatts (MW) of continuous electricity for 10 hours per day, and a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 200 megawatt hours (MWh)
Proponent BE Power Projects Pty Ltd as Trustee for Big-T Unit Trust
Location/s Approximately 45 km north-east of Toowoomba. Map
Local government/s Toowoomba Regional Council and Somerset Regional Council
Investment Up to $1.3 billion
Key features
  • new upper reservoir located on Mt Sevastopol
  • underground water conveyances and intake/outlet infrastructure connecting the water conveyances between the upper reservoir and existing Lake Cressbrook (lower reservoir)
  • underground power station cavern, housing two 200 megawatt reversible turbines and access tunnel
  • 15 km underground double-circuit 275 kilovolt transmission line and a new switching station
  • evacuation and ventilation tunnel
  • upgrade of Sebastapool and Three Mile Roads and new 3 km access road to the tunnel portals and lower intake
  • a battery energy storage system
Construction start date 2024
Jobs
  • 350 (construction)
  • 10 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Have your say

The Coordinator-General has prepared a draft terms of reference (TOR) for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Big-T Pumped Hydropower Energy Storage project.

The draft TOR sets out the matters the project proponent must address when preparing the EIS.

You are invited to comment on whether the draft TOR adequately covers all the matters the project proponent must address when preparing the EIS.

The Coordinator-General will consider your comments before finalising the TOR.

Comments close at 5 pm on Wednesday, 22 February 2023.

Read and comment on the draft TOR.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
21 January 2023 to 22 February 2023 Draft terms of reference (PDF icon 2.4 MB) for EIS public consultation.
30 September 2022 Gazettal (PDF icon 225 KB) of 'coordinated project' declaration.
15 July 2022 Application, including final initial advice statement (PDF icon 8.3 MB), submitted.
22 March 2022 Commonwealth Minister for the Environment decided the project is a ‘controlled action’ More information

Further information

Read more about the EIS process.

Last updated: 20 Jan 2023