Capricornia Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage and Transmission Project

Project overview*

EIS status	EIS active
Description	Pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) and transmission project with a stored capacity of up to 750 megawatts for approximately 16 hours for a 24 hour period.
Proponent	CI QLD PHES 1 Pty Ltd as trustee for CI QLD PHES 1 Trust (trading as Capricornia Pumped Hydro) and CI QLD Infrastructure 1 Pty Ltd (joint proponents).
Location/s	Approximately 80 km west of Mackay and 10 km northwest of Eungella. Map
Local government/s	Isaac Regional Council and Mackay Regional Council
Investment	$2.87 billion
Key features	approximately 18 gigalitre upper reservoir with valley infill wall and an instream lower reservoir within Broken River, both with associated spillways approximately 750 megawatt powerhouse generation facility, intakes, and tunnels for water conveyance to connect the reservoirs and powerhouse approximately 18km long overhead transmission line and substation connecting to the existing Powerlink Strathmore to Nebo 275 kilovolt transmission line supporting infrastructure (temporary and permanent).
Construction start date	2026
Jobs	600 full time equivalent (construction) 65 full time equivalent (operation)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Date	Activity
Currently	Draft EIS being prepared by proponent.
25 September 2024	Terms of reference for an EIS ( 1.0 MB) released. The terms of reference includes the requirement to address matters outlined in the Preparing an EIS - Guideline for proponents (February 2024) ( 419.5 KB).
15 July to 23 August 2024	Draft terms of reference for EIS ( 1.2 MB) public consultation. The draft terms of reference includes the requirement to address matters outlined in the Preparing an EIS - Guideline for proponents (February 2024) ( 419.5 KB).
18 April 2024	Gazettal ( 245.5 KB) of 'coordinated project' declaration.
13 December 2023	Application, including initial advice statement ( 32.2 MB) submitted.
11 December 2023	Australian Minister for the Environment and Water decided the PHES component 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).
7 December 2023	Australian Minister for the Environment and Water decided the transmission component is a ‘controlled action’.