MRCCC submission to Borumba Pumped Hydro exploratory works

Click on the link to download a copy of the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee’s submission to Qld Hydro in relation to the exploratory works for the proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro project.

The MRCCC has identified many concerns in relation to the project. Of critical importance is the need to separate the pumped hydropower project from the Mary River system by building two new reservoirs that can work independently of the present Lake Borumba and Yabba Creek. Two new reservoirs that work purely for the production of hydroelectricity will significantly minimise the daily impacts that the current proposal will create, and that cannot be mitigated.

If the Borumba PHES project is to proceed as currently proposed, the MRCCC intends to continue to advocate for separating the project from the Mary River system as much as possible by pumping water between the proposed upper reservoir and a new, purpose-built off-stream lower reservoir, (Borumba Creek balancing storage proposal) instead of pumping water directly back and forth between the Mary River system via Lake Borumba .

Image: Giant fig at the top of Borumba Dam

If this project is given the green light, there is potential for a range of matters of national environmental significance to be impacted. This includes the following;

Critically endangered – Lowland subtropical rainforest of eastern Australia

Critically endangered – Mary River turtle

Critically endangered – White-throated snapping turtle

Endangered – Mary River cod

Vulnerable – Queensland lungfish

Endangered – Koalas – endangered

Endangered – Greater gliders

Vulnerable – Yellow-bellied gliders

Vulnerable – Glossy-black cockatoos

Vulnerable – Black breasted button quail