The North’s Burdekin Falls Dam could be generating enough electricity to power 30,000 homes under plans by the state government for an hydro-electric power station.
The government announced it is developing a business case for a hydro-electric power station on the dam, which could generate 150 gigawatt hours, based on its current size.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the plan to increase the dam capacity by 150,000 megalitres (ML) to more than two million ML was already being assessed in conjunction with the Federal Government under the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.
"This project is critical for the development of northern Australia," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"The hydro-electric potential in the Burdekin has been talked about since the 1940s.
“It was last proposed in 2014, but the proponent shelved the project amid disarray in Abbott-Turnbull Government energy policy, at a time when the Nicholls-Newman Government remained firmly anti-renewables.”
The dam – which holds four times the capacity of Sydney Harbour – is currently at 101 per cent of its 1,860,000ML storage capacity.
It supports 1000 irrigation, industrial and urban water customers in the Burdekin Haughton water supply scheme.
Cane and horticulture grower Mario Barbagallo, Burdekin-Haughton Irrigation Scheme, said any project that would deliver “reasonably priced power” would be welcome.
“(The cost of) power is what is driving farming out,” Mr Barbagallo said.
While the business case into the potential for hydro at Burdekin is predominantly about energy supply, it will take into account the future findings of the Townsville Water Security Taskforce which is currently investigating short, medium and long-term solutions to water security for Townsville.
Dam owner SunWater welcomed the announcement.
SunWater chair Leith Boully said a hydro-electric power station at Burdekin Falls Dam would be a win for Far North Queensland, creating jobs and boosting electricity generation to help meet the region’s power demands.
“Electricity is one of the major costs incurred to pump water for our customers, so we welcome the initiative to investigate the feasibility of utilising the significant energy stored in dam to provide clean energy into the North Queensland electricity grid,” Ms Boully said.
“Burdekin Falls Dam is a major asset for this region of Queensland, helping provide a secure water supply, and the addition of a hydro-electric power station will further increase the dam’s value to the state, customers and the community.
“SunWater continues to work with Building Queensland to investigate the potential raising of Burdekin Falls Dam.”
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) also welcomed the state government’s proposal.
QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said all options need to be on the table to secure the state’s future energy mix.
“The establishment of a small hydroelectric power station at the state’s largest dam will add much needed supply into the east coast electricity market,” Mr Macfarlane said.
Mr Macfarlane also urged the Queensland Government to consider the development of the Tully Millstream Hydro project to provide even more base load power in North Queensland.
“Once again Queensland is setting an example for southern states on how to run a balanced energy policy by considering all options - coal, gas, renewables – to deliver affordable, reliable energy,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“But if we are to be agnostic in terms of the sources of energy the government should also support the addition of a modern high efficiency, low emission (HELE) power plant in Townsville, using some of the highest quality, low emission coal in the world right here in Queensland.
“If this region is to generate jobs and develop to its full potential it must have its own stable power generation including both hydroelectricity and coal-fired power supply,” Mr Macfarlane said.
After consulting with the community, the taskforce is expected to report on options to the Premier and Prime Minister in the second half of 2017.
