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Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project

Project overview*

EIS statusEIS active
Description Proposal to develop a pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) project to supply up to 2,000 MW electricity for up to 24 hours (resulting in a storage capacity of 48,000 MWh)
Proponent Queensland Hydro Pty Ltd
Location/s

The project is located approximately 13 km south-west of Imbil, 48 km south-west of Gympie and 180 km north-west of Brisbane. Map

Local government/s
  • Gympie Regional Council
  • Somerset Regional Council
Investment

$14.2 billion

Key features
  • a new dam wall 300 m downstream of the existing Borumba Dam wall to increase the storage capacity of Lake Borumba (lower reservoir)
  • main dam wall and saddle dams to form an upper reservoir
  • underground power station, pump turbines and other infrastructure
  • underground tunnels including water tunnels to transfer water between the upper and lower reservoirs, cable and access tunnels
  • electrical switchyard for connection between the power station and the transmission network
  • supporting infrastructure (temporary and permanent) including access roads, maintenance buildings, treatment plants, spoil areas and laydown areas, construction camps and quarries and/or borrow pits.
Construction start date 2025
Jobs
  • 2,360 full time equivalent (construction)
  • 30 full time equivalent (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
Currently Draft EIS being prepared by proponent.
16 August 2024 Terms of reference for an EIS ( 1.0 MB).

The TOR includes the requirement to address matters outlined in the Preparing an EIS - Guideline for proponents (February 2024) (PDF icon 0.4MB).

17 February 2024 to 28 March 2024

Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation (PDF icon 1.0MB).

The draft TOR includes the requirement to address matters outlined in the Preparing an EIS - Guideline for proponents (February 2024) (PDF icon 0.4MB).

19 December 2023 Commonwealth Minister for the Environment decided the project is a ‘controlled action
12 October 2023

Gazettal ( 246.4 KB) of ‘coordinated project’ declaration.

7 September 2023 Final initial advice statement submitted ( 18.4 MB)

Further information

Read more about the EIS process.

Last updated: 20 Sep 2024