$935m Earmarked For Borumba

June 13, 2024

The 2024-25 State Budget handed down by Treasurer Cameron Dick on Tuesday has very few sweeteners for the South Burnett region.

Many of the items mentioned are either ongoing funding – for example, maintenance at Meandu Mine – or have been previously announced, such as Activate! Queensland sports funding.

However, support for renewable energy projects has been highlighted, including network upgrades, planning work for the Borumba Dam pumped hydro project and continued work on the Wambo Wind Farm.

Projects named in the Budget papers include:

$468,000 out of a $943,000 total cost to construct a covered area over courts at Kilkivan State School

$3.4 million out of a $35.1 million total to carry out substation refurbishment works at Kilkivan Substation to improve network performance

$140,234 out of a $226,184 total for the South Burnett Regional Council to construct amenities to support active recreation in Murgon

$189,769 out of a $306,079 total for the Barambah United Football Club to construct amenities to support soccer in Wondai

$102,250 out of a $164,920 total for Kingaroy Rugby League Football Club to construct amenities to support rugby league in Kingaroy

$217,000 out of a $350,000 total for the South Burnett Saints to construct amenities to support Australian Rules football in Kingaroy

$225,000 out of a $250,000 total for Nanango & District Netball to upgrade courts in Nanango

The BESS battery project at Tarong Power Station – part of the State Government’s planned Southern Renewable Energy Zone – has been allocated $116.4 million in 2024-25 out of a $514.1 million total cost.

Construction of this project has already begun.

A State Government spokesperson said it would have the capacity to supply 300MW (two hours) of energy into the National Electricity Market, making it one of the largest battery energy storage systems in Queensland.

It is providing local employment and supply chain opportunities for the South Burnett, with up to 80 full-time employees engaged over the 20-month construction phase.

Ongoing operations at Meandu Mine and the Tarong Power Stations have also been funded.

Meandu has been allocated $50.2 million in 2024-25 to replace and refurbish handling equipment, mine development, fleet and other minor works and infrastructure.

Tarong Power Station will receive $131.4 million to replace and refurbish existing infrastructure.

More money has also been earmarked for the yet-to-be-approved Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project.

The Budget allocated $935.9 million in 2024-25 out of a $14.159 billion total project cost for progression of approvals, exploratory works and procurement for the main works.

Work on Stages 1 and 2 of the Wambo Wind Farm will also continue, with $376.7 million allocated for 2024-25 out of a $950.9 million total cost.