Pioneer-Burdekin Project reaches new milestone

• Pioneer-Burdekin Project reaches 5-kilometre geotechnical drilling milestone
• Thousands of dollars injected into the local economy through the project each week
• Miles Government committed to delivering cleaner, cheaper power and billions in economic uplift
• LNP committed to cutting benefits for locals

The Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project has reached its next milestone, with the Premier today announcing that more than 5 kilometres of core samples have been collected.

To date, more than 50 boreholes have been drilled on the Miles Government’s signature energy project.

The project is now entering its next phase, with publicly owned energy company Queensland Hydro confirming structurally solid granite throughout the project site.

The Pioneer-Burdekin Project will store the excess energy collected from Australia’s world-leading levels of household solar, for use at night when the sun isn’t shining, the wind isn’t blowing and when energy usage is at its peak.

It’s expected to support thousands of jobs and boost the local Mackay economy by billions of dollars.

Local company Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling – which is undertaking the works – estimates they are injecting more than $20,000 a week into the Mackay region through purchases relating to the project.

Additionally, independent modelling estimates Queensland’s north and outback regions will be boosted $240 billion, and 84,000 additional jobs if Queensland reaches NetZero by 2050.

The pumped-hydro project will also play a critical role in enabling Queensland to meet its legislated renewable energy and emissions reductions targets, with analysis by Queensland Hydro demonstrating it will directly avoid up to seven million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

As a large-scale civil construction project, the majority of expenditure on Pioneer-Burdekin will go to Australian sourced labour and materials, directly benefiting the regional, Queensland and Australian economies.

Prospective suppliers are already gearing up to be part of this once-in-a-generation investment in the Mackay, Whitsundays and Issac regions, with nearly 600 Australian businesses, including over 60 from the local region, registering their interest in the project.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“My government is dedicated to delivering cheaper, cleaner energy, and our commitment to the Pioneer-Burdekin project is rock solid. 

"With every drill and borehole, Pioneer-Burdekin powers up more regional jobs for small businesses like Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling, with benefits to the community to continue for decades to come.

“This nation-leading project will ensure we lock in a clean economy future for Queensland’s industrial heartland.

“Reaching this 5km geotechnical milestone is proof that we're not just planning for the future—we're delivering it.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs Mick de Brenni:
“Pumped hydro is the powerhouse solution for energy storage, promising lower bills and cheaper electricity when and where it's needed most.

“Mackay locals are already reaping the benefits of the clean energy boom Pioneer-Burdekin will deliver, with thousands of dollars of investment supercharging the local economy each week.

“The new Miles Government will always support local business, local economy and local jobs, while the LNP have made it clear they will pull the plug on Mackay’s clean energy future if they’re elected.

“We’re committed to making the Pioneer-Burdekin project a reality—something the LNP has committed to cut. Queensland’s future is too important to gamble with.”

Quotes attributable to Kieran Cusack, Queensland Hydro Chief Executive Officer

This milestone represents critical progress in our understanding of the Pioneer-Burdekin Project site and will support a robust assessment of the project through the Detailed Analytical Report (DAR) which is due to the Queensland Government by the end of 2024. 

I'd also like to thank and recognise the landowners in the project footprint who have granted access to their properties for this drilling to be undertaken, and to the surrounding communities who have supported our project team and contractor partners.

It is vital for important projects like the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project to invest time and effort in the initial investigative studies to obtain the most detailed information possible, and to then use that information to prepare the best possible business case for decision-makers.

Quotes attributable to Stephen Burt, Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling Owner and Managing Director:

Quotes attributable to Stephen Burt, Twin Hills Engineering and Drilling Owner and Managing Director: 

“We’re going gang busters. This project has put us in a whole new space, and has allowed us the opportunity to start working in the renewable energy industry and diversify our business.

“We’ve been able to employ 12 new people directly, and a further 10 indirectly. We pour more than $20,000 a week into the local Mackay economy.

That includes at least $7,500 in accommodation and meals alone, about another $2,500 in fuel, and another $13,000 a week in the day-to-day running of things on site.

“We’ve crewed up new rigs with locals straight from Mackay, and have brought around five or six people out of coal and into renewables.

“What we’re doing will mean more jobs kept in Queensland, and the feeling in the business community is that this is great for Mackay.”

EXTRA INFORMATION:

Building a comprehensive understanding of geotechnical conditions at an early stage of the Pioneer-Burdekin project will help to refine project design, minimise the geological and construction risk profile, and reduce delivery timeframes.

The project is currently in the initial investigation phase of technical studies including front-end engineering design and a range of geotechnical, environmental, cultural, social, and economic investigations are being undertaken to inform the Detailed Analytical Report (DAR).

This is a crucial component of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, enhancing outcomes for both workers and communities as they collaborate in the energy transition.

The Pioneer Valley and nearby ranges are located around 75 km west of Mackay. This area was identified by the Queensland Government as a site that has significant potential for a pumped hydro energy storage facility.

The site is an ideal location due to the potential to have upper and lower reservoirs incredibly close together – meaning short tunnel lengths – delivering a capacity of up to 5,000 MW.