When Jock Hansen purchased a small farm in an isolated mountain refuge, he never imagined the world’s largest pumped hydro scheme could be built next door.
But with the Queensland government’s Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project looming over the future of the north Queensland town of Eungella, where his business is based, this farmer is hanging up his boots.
The town of Eungella is located atop a rainforest-clad mountain range 80 kilometres west of Mackay, which overlooks the Pioneer Valley.
The Eungella range, overlooking the Pioneer Valley. (ABC Tropical North: Tim Shepard)
The proposed project would involve three reservoirs being established, with two upper reservoirs built in the hills, in the town of Dalrymple Heights just north-east of Eungella, while a lower reservoir would be located in the nearby valley, at Netherdale.
Mr Hansen said he was not the only one walking away from an uncertain future, while other residents hoped the upcoming state election would provide some long-awaited clarity about whether the project will go ahead.
Giving up on farming dream
It was a dream to “be different” and his search for a more peaceful lifestyle that first inspired landscaper Jock Hansen to buy a farm in the idyllic region.
His goal was to grow finger limes; the native citrus filled with colourful pulp that resembles caviar.
The pearls or caviar of finger lime come in a variety of colours. (ABC Landline: Cam Lang)
But since the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project was proposed two years ago, he said the community he once loved had changed.
“People are leaving the region because of land buyouts for this project,” he said.
Now, he too has made the decision to walk away from the dream that took him a decade to build.
His property is not directly impacted by the project and he sold his land privately.
But he said the potential for reservoirs to be built so close to the town, as well as the proposed infrastructure that would accompany the project, drove his decision.
“We’re not really keen to see the industrialisation of Eungella,” he said.
“When you don’t have any control over what’s happening around you, it brings uncertainty into it.”
Mr Hansen says his dream was to “be different” when he became a farmer in 2014. (ABC Rural: Ashleigh Bagshaw)
Election key to determining project’s future
The Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project was first proposed in September 2022 as part of the Queensland Government’s $62 billion energy plan.
Initial estimates put the project at $12 billion and as the world’s largest pumped hydro system, it was slated to play a key role in the plan.
The Queensland government initially said around 50 homes would be affected.
According to CoreLogic, 60 parcels of land have been purchased by Queensland Hydro, a publicly owned entity established by the Queensland government to develop and deliver the pumped hydro assets in the state’s energy plan.
With the state election scheduled for October 26, the future of this project remains uncertain as it does not have bipartisan support.
Premier Steven Miles said pumped hydro provided secure, low-cost renewable energy.
“There is no other technology that can be delivered soon enough, at scale, or for comparable cost,” he said.
“This project is set to deliver the deep energy storage needed to provide Queensland homes and industries with renewables, while also reducing emissions.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli previously stated that the LNP would not proceed with the pumped hydro project if elected.
David Crisafulli says, if elected, his government will not proceed with the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project. (ABC News)
He said the project “was not feasible”.
“Pioneer-Burdekin pumped-hydro has no direct funding, no approvals and no social licence from the local community,” he said.
“We will investigate opportunities for smaller, more manageable pumped-hydro projects.”
The project is still in the initial investigation phase.
Queensland Hydro confirmed it was working on a detailed analytical report which will be provided to the government by the end of the year.
It also said in a statement on its website: “Queensland Hydro seeks to minimise impacts to landholders and their land.”
Impacted regardless
Doug Cannon is a Dalrymple Heights resident and the president of the Save Eungella group, a local organisation dedicated to stopping the pumped hydro project.
He said since the project was announced, he had seen locals like Jock Hansen leave the town.
Like many other residents living near Eungella and the Pioneer Valley, the Cannon family is living in a state of limbo. (ABC Tropical North: Ashleigh Bagshaw)
“I no longer have quite a few neighbours, just in my little pocket,” he said.
“We’ve lost people that have had such a good impact and were such a great hub of knowledge.”
He did not think residents who had left would return if the project did not go ahead.
“We’re not sure how the buyback system will work or what the future of Eungella will look like,” Mr Cannon said.
Queensland Hydro did not confirm whether a buyback option would be available to residents.
“The details of arrangements between Queensland Hydro and individual landholders are private,” a Queensland Hydro spokesperson said.
