First meeting for new Kilcoy, Jimna and Surrounds focus group.
Queensland Hydro welcomes nine new community voices to shape Borumba Project.
Members of Queensland Hydro’s newest community focus group came together for the first time in Kilcoy last week, marking an important step in formal engagement with the region.
Nine community representatives were selected for the Kilcoy, Jimna and Surrounds Focus Group following an open Expression of Interest process in late 2025. Each member brings strong local connections and a mix of tourism, business, and community experience to the table. They will serve a two year term.
Over the course of the morning session, members gained an overview of the proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project, including what the region can expect as exploratory works ramp up.
Learn more about upcoming works.
Head of Stakeholder and Local Communication, Fiona Martin, emphasised that local engagement is vital as exploratory works get underway.
“The Kilcoy, Jimna and Surrounds Focus Group gives us a direct line to the community, helping us understand what matters most as the proposed Borumba Project progresses,” Dr Martin said.
“As these early exploratory works begin, the group’s insights will be invaluable in ensuring we plan responsibly and honour the legacy of the area, while doing our best to minimise impacts wherever possible.
“Today’s meeting laid a positive foundation for these important conversations, and we’re deeply grateful to our new members for generously sharing their time, experience and perspectives.”
The group will meet on a regular basis throughout the exploratory works phase, ensuring the community’s voice continues to shape our journey together.
Engagement for the Borumba Project
We know that our proposed Borumba Project is ultimately better off when we have input from our neighbours and local communities. That’s why community involvement sits at the heart of our engagement approach.
Focus groups are a core part of this work, helping ensure that stakeholder insights directly inform the Borumba Project’s design, construction, and operation. Our focus groups are designed to:
- provide a forum for discussions about project specific issues (eg traffic and transport, local business impacts, recreation and tourism etc) to better inform the proposed Borumba Project's design, construction and operation.
- ensure that Queensland Hydro and the Queensland Government are aware of local issues related to the Borumba Project and that the interests of a broad range of stakeholders are considered.
- leverage community knowledge to fully understand potential local benefits and how they can be captured.
- provide an opportunity for stakeholders to better understand the Borumba Project.
Learn more about our community engagement.
First published 10 February 2026.
