MP Urges Input Into Dam Impact

FLASHBACK: Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien on stage with Katy McCallum, from the Kilkivan Action Group, and One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts at the “Reckless Renewables” rally in Canberra earlier this month

February 26, 2024

The Borumba Pumped Hydro project and its associated transmission lines “pose a threat to communities, private property, vulnerable and endangered species, natural habitat and vegetation” according to Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien.

Mr O’Brien has urged residents to have a say on the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) released recently by the Office of the Co-ordinator-General which is co-ordinating the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process.

“This is an important opportunity for the community to have their say on whether the draft Terms of Reference … adequately covers all the matters that Borumba Pumped Hydro must address in preparing their impact statement,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The regional community has expressed to me their fears that the Borumba project will destroy the beauty and liveability of their homes, create an increased fire risk and cause the loss of native habitat and prime agricultural land.”

Mr O’Brien said the project’s Draft Corridor Reports recommended a corridor for the transmission lines which would affect 133 freehold properties around Kilkivan and 168 south of Nanango.

“The privately held forest to be cleared is also habitat for endangered and critically endangered fauna and flora, including the Northern Quoll, koalas, and Native Guava,” he said.

A copy of the draft TOR is available on the OCG website

Public comments are open until Thursday, March 28.

“Please don’t miss this opportunity to have your say about the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of this project on the regional community,” Mr O’Brien said.

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