Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project

Project overview*

EIS status	EIS 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.

Date	Activity
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) ( 0.4MB).
17 February 2024 to 28 March 2024	Draft terms of reference for EIS public consultation ( 1.0MB). The draft TOR includes the requirement to address matters outlined in the Preparing an EIS - Guideline for proponents (February 2024) ( 0.4MB).
19 December 2023	Australian Minister for the Environment decided the project is a ‘controlled action’ A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).
12 October 2023	Gazettal ( 246.4 KB) of ‘coordinated project’ declaration.
7 September 2023	Application, including initial advice statement submitted ( 18.4 MB) submitted.