Urannah Project

Project overview*

EIS statusEIS active
DescriptionA dam on the Broken River, a water distribution network including connecting water pipelines and instream distribution and storage of water, an irrigation precinct and a pumped hydro-electric power scheme.
ProponentBowen River Utilities Pty Ltd
Location/sUpper Broken River Valley, 86 kilometers (km) south-east of Collinsville and 80 km west of Mackay. Map
Local government/s
  • Mackay Regional Council
  • Whitsunday Regional Council
  • Isaac Regional Council
Investment$2.9 billion
Key features
  • dam – a gravity fed dam on the Broken River with water storage capacity of up to 1,500,000 megalitres (ML)
  • water distribution network from the proposed dam north to the Peter Faust Dam and on to Bowen and Abbot Point, south to Eungella Dam and Moranbah – including water pipelines and instream distribution and storage of water with associated ancillary works, such as pump stations and power supply infrastructure
  • irrigation precinct – an irrigated agricultural development area of up to 25,000 hectares (ha) and associated in-stream and off-stream storages, trunk delivery works and on-farm infrastructure
  • pumped hydro-electric power storage and power generation infrastructure – power generation infrastructure producing 1.5 GW+ electricity supply and 7 GWhr+ pumped storage capacity, incorporating power stations (surface and underground), dams and reservoirs, waterways and power transmission infrastructure
  • ancillary works and infrastructure – for example, quarries and borrows, road and access development and upgrades, site establishment areas, laydowns, site amenities and accommodation, services and utilities (including electricity, telecommunications).
Construction state date 2022
Jobs
  • Up to 1,200 full time equivalent (FTE) (construction)
  • 675 FTE (operational).

Have your say

The Coordinator-General has prepared a draft terms of reference (TOR) for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Urannah Project.

The draft TOR sets out the matters Bowen River Utilities Pty Ltd 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 5 pm on 29 January 2021.

Read and comment on the draft TOR.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

DateActivity
30 November to 29 January 2021Draft terms of reference (PDF icon 982 KB) for EIS public consultation.
4 September 2020

Commonwealth Minister for the Environment decided the project is a ‘controlled action’.

The Urannah Project comprises of:

7 May 2020Gazettal (PDF icon 249 KB) of ‘coordinated project’ declaration.
1 November 2019Application, including initial advice statement (PDF icon 7.6 MB), submitted.

Further information

Read more about the EIS process.

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Last updated: Thursday, May 7, 2020