“PLATYPUS BLOOD WILL BE ON THEIR HANDS”

Community Outcry Over Queensland Hydro's Threat To Platypus Habitat

By Amanda Wright

Residents in the Pioneer Valley are up in arms over the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project, which they claim poses a grave threat to the region's invaluable rainforest and its diverse range of endangered species. The controversial project, spearheaded by Queensland Hydro, has raised serious concerns among locals who fear the irreversible damage it may cause to this pristine natural wonder.

Save Eungella, a not-for-profit community organisation, has recently launched an aggressive campaign to raise awareness about the alleged detrimental impact the proposed hydro project could have on the region. The prospect of losing this remarkable biodiversity hotspot has ignited a passionate outcry from residents and conservationists alike, who are determined to halt the project's progression.

Residents and landowners in the Pioneer Valley are sounding the alarm as they claim the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project poses a grave danger to platypus and the unique natural wonders of the area. Save Eungella, a local not-for-profit organisation, has launched a website and awareness campaign to shed light on what they believe will be detrimental effects of the planned hydro project.

While not opposed to green energy or pumped hydro, concerned local resident Craig Burns emphasises that Eungella is an unsuitable location. Eungella National Park, known as Australia's longest-running rainforest, is a sanctuary for diverse flora and fauna, including rare species found nowhere else in the world and the iconic platypus.

The project's potential impact has raised significant concerns among residents, with Burns expressing his dismay, stating, "Queensland Hydro plans to use large sections of rainforest and farming land for their pumped hydro project and seem unfazed by the idea of killing platypus and destroying their habitat."

Despite legal protection under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act and the Queensland Nature Conservation Act, the group claims the project poses a threat to more than 20 species, some of which are endangered or vulnerable and exclusive to the Eungella region.

Advocates are calling for an alternative approach, as Craig Burns argues, "It doesn't truly qualify as green energy if rare and endangered plants and animals are sacrificed. There must be a better alternative... a better way."

Save Eungella's website (www.saveeungella.com.au) provides comprehensive information on the Eungella area and the potential consequences of the proposed project. It also hosts an online petition, which residents urge the public to sign to halt the concerning pumped hydro plan and protect countless platypus and the invaluable natural rainforest.

"We need people to sign the petition.

“We need to put a stop to this ridiculous pumped hydro plan.

“We need to save countless platypus from being killed.

“We need to preserve one of the few remaining natural and beautiful rainforests in Queensland, not destroy it."

When approached for comment by the ‘Save Eungella’ group on why the project was announced before conducting environmental studies, Queensland Hydro declined to respond. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns, as Burns highlights, "It's alarming that the Queensland Government and Queensland Hydro make announcements and plans without conducting proper research or investigations into the project's true implications."

Queensland Hydro did not respond to this publication’s request for comment, however information from their website says that the Pioneer Valley and adjacent ranges has been identified for its significant potential for a long-duration pumped hydro facility, given the topography of the area.

“The site’s proximity to high-quality wind and solar generation sources in the Central and Northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zones could unlock large volumes of renewable energy,” the website reads.

“Further studies are now required to better understand the impacts and benefits of PHES at the Pioneer-Burdekin site.

“Queensland Hydro will carry out detailed analytical studies over the next 18 months, to refine knowledge of the pumped hydro potential between the proposed upper reservoirs in the Burdekin catchment, and the lower reservoir proposed in the Pioneer Valley near Netherdale. Studies will also include geotechnical investigations, environmental, social and cultural heritage assessments.”

Fears loom that the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project may mirror the disastrous Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project, plagued by significant delays and budget overruns. Despite the Queensland Government allocating $12 billion for the project, the group claim that experts anticipate the costs ballooning to approximately $24 billion or more, given the track record of similar ventures in Australia.

Last month, Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, was joined by Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, to tour some of the properties that are set to be affected by the five-gigawatt, large-scale, long-duration Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro.

With 79 properties expected to be affected, Ms Landry said families were reaching breaking point as they grapple with the state government’s plans to inundate their properties for renewable energy.

“I have met with families who have broken down in tears and asked me what do they do with their lives if they’re forced off their land. Many of the properties have been in their family for generations. It’s heartbreaking,” Ms Landry said.

“It’s hypocritical of the Labor and Greens parties to scrutinise the resources industry when they are more than willing to sacrifice the environment in the name of renewable energy.”

Mr Littleproud said the community felt helpless.

“Labor’s ideology doesn’t match the practical reality and sadly it’s at the expense of Eungella locals,” Mr Littleproud said.

“It is senseless to destroy prime agriculture land and rainforest in this special part of Queensland. I urge the state government to listen to locals and to scrutinise this project properly, before it’s too late.”

Expressing disappointment in the government's handling of the situation, Burns remarks, "This entire situation reeks of a desperate premier hastily assembling a green energy plan after years of disregarding scientists and climate change activists.

“It's a grandiose, headline-grabbing quick fix that the premier and her allies have concocted in a final attempt to polish their image,” Mr Burns said.

“How can a project be greenlit without any research or consultation?

“It's evident that Annastacia either lacks knowledge of the project's threat to platypus, which she should be aware of before giving it the go-ahead, or she simply doesn't care.

“Either way, Eungella is not the place for pumped hydro."

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An impromptu gathering of Eungella locals demonstrating their disdain for the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project. Photo: Save Eungella Facebook Page

Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, was joined by Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, last month to tour some of the properties that are set to be affected by the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project