Our dedicated project team is committed to ensuring the local community, landowners and other stakeholders have access to as much information as possible and that any questions are responded to in a timely manner.
We want the needs and views of the community to be incorporated into our project.
The list of Frequently Asked Questions below has been put together based on the questions we are mostly frequently asked as we undertake our extensive community consultation and will be updated regularly.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
What is the project?
Known as ‘The Urannah Project’ for the purposes of our Environmental Impact Statement, the Urannah Project involves the construction and operation of three separate but related components, and their associated ancillary infrastructure, in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday (MIW) region of Queensland.
- Urannah Water Scheme (UWS) comprises a new 940,000 ML dam (Urannah Dam) to be constructed on the Broken River, with a water distribution network including instream distribution and storage of water and a pipeline corridor to deliver water to Moranbah (Moranbah Pipeline).
- Collinsville Irrigation Scheme (CIS) is a master planned irrigated agriculture precinct of approximately 7,000 ha adjacent to the Bowen River near Collinsville. The CIS will include associated in-stream storage (Strathmore Weir) and off-stream storages, trunk delivery works and on-farm infrastructure.
- Pumped Hydro-electric Scheme (PHES) is a pumped-hydro-electric power generation scheme over two sites to be constructed upstream of the Urannah Dam on Broken River and Furious Creek, respectively. The PHES will generate up to 1,400 MW of dispatchable power into the national electricity grid. Associated infrastructure will include underground and surface power stations, dams and reservoirs, waterways and power transmission infrastructure.
Where is the project located?
The project is located in North Queensland, in the Greater Whitsunday Region. It is 64km south-east of Collinsville on the Broken River downstream from Eungella Dam.
Who is the proponent?
The project proponent is Bowen River Utilities (BRU). We are a privately owned and operated company with a vision to create the next generation of utilities that will enable Queensland communities to prosper through sustainable water and energy supply.
It is this vision for the future of North Queensland that motivates our team to ensure the highest levels of project management to see our vision realised.
Why is the project necessary?
A dam on the Bowen Broken River has been studied by Government since 1954 because of its unique position high up the ranges and annual rainfall that is almost double that of the broader region. But dams on their own don’t stack up financially, which is why our project proposal also includes an irrigation scheme and pumped hydro electric scheme and the opportunity for energy production which will feed back into the grid.
Providing a reliable water supply, cheaper energy and opportunities to grow high quality crops for export will allow the Greater Whitsunday Region to further diversify its economies and pave the way for jobs in other industries beyond the mining sector.
What are the project benefits?
The Urannah project will transform the Greater Whitsunday Region the way that Fairbairn Dam transformed Emerald and will be the first major dam built in Australian in more than 30 years.
It will create the next generation of utilities that will enable Queensland communities to prosper through sustainable water and energy supply.
The project will create up to 1200 jobs during construction and more than 650 new jobs once fully operational.
With the support of The Urannah Project, the region will become an industry leader in renewable energy technologies.
The project will ensure reliable, affordable power and water is available to North Queensland families, making it the ideal place to work, live and raise a family.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
What is an Environmental Impact Statement?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the process used by the Queensland Government to assess significant projects. It is the most stringent and rigorous form of environmental, economic and social assessment in Queensland.
The EIS can be broken down in three distinct parts.
- Establishing the baseline of the current environment in the area of the project;
- Determining potential social, economic and environmental impacts and benefits of the project; and
- Plans to mitigate, avoid, minimise, offset or removal of the potential impacts