Pioneer-Burdekin Project: Works and notifications
Find out what works are taking place in your community.
We’re committed to engaging openly and transparently with our communities. As part of this commitment, Queensland Hydro will provide regular updates on works being undertaken at our proposed Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project.
Queensland Hydro engages with all levels of government to obtain the correct permits and authorisations for its work. We also liaise with landholders where necessary to arrange access to their properties.
Queensland Hydro will issue a works notification with information about the type of works, the location, expected timeframes and contact information of our project teams. If you have questions about the works, we encourage you to contact the project team to ask for more information.
Works Notifications – current and upcoming
| Date notified | Proposed timeframe | Status | Where | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | September – October 2024 | Ongoing | Lower Reservoir – Netherdale | Drill rig 1 – is planned to drill three drill holes on one private property in September and October. The first is planned to drill to 30m and will take around one week to complete. The second is planned to drill to 30m and will take around a week to complete. The third is planned to drill to 68m and will take around three weeks to complete. |
| July 2024 | July – September 2024 | Ongoing | Upper Reservoir A – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 2 – is planned to drill at four locations on two private properties in the Upper Reservoir. Location 1: it is planned to drill to 430m on private property in mid-September for three weeks. Drilling 600m deep at the second location until the end of October. This will inform and provide information on the type of rock expected to be found at the proposed locations for the water inlets, outlets, tunnels, and power cavern. Location 2: From the end of October to November, drilling is planned to depths between 30 m and 83m. |
| August 2024 | June – October 2024 | Ongoing | Upper Reservoir A – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 3 – is planned to be on private property off Dalrymple Road and will remain there for up to five months. This vertical borehole will be up to 900m deep and provide information on the type of rock expected to be found at the proposed locations for the water inlets, outlets, tunnels and power cavern. Once complete, drill rig 3 is planned to move to another private property where it will drill the remaining 600m hole and remain in place for close to two months. |
| September 2024 | September -October 2024 | Ongoing | Lower Reservoir – Netherdale | Drill rig 4 – is planned to drill at three sites on one private property in the lower reservoir in September and October. The depths will range from 30m to 90m and will take between 10 and 22 days each to complete. |
| September 2024 | September 2024 | Ongoing | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Water and sediment quality Monthly water and sediment quality monitoring is planned for the Upper and Lower reservoirs. The team will collect samples from various locations within the study area. Basic water quality readings will be taken on-site, and additional samples will be sent to a laboratory for more detailed analysis. |
| September 2024 | September 2024 | Ongoing | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Terrestrial Ecology Terrestrial ecology studies are planned for September in the Upper and Lower reservoir areas. The survey intends to assess the wetland areas around the upper reservoir areas. In particular, the ecologists will search for Latham’s Snipe—a wetland bird listed as vulnerable and migratory under the EPBC Act—that has been found in the area. The survey will also include a bird census (survey) targeting species more likely to be present in Spring months. |
| September 2024 | September 2024 | Ongoing | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Aquatic surveys Further aquatic ecology studies are planned for late September. The team intends to conduct assessments at various locations along local waterways, identifying observed species at each site and recording habitat parameters. Sample methods include transect monitoring aquatic plant communities, dip netting for macroinvertebrates, baited traps for turtles, and backpack electrofishing for fish. Once caught, fish and macro crustaceans will be identified, counted, and returned to the waterway (except for noxious fish, which will be euthanised in accordance with our Queensland General Fisheries and Ethics Permits and voucher specimens, which may be retained for identification in the laboratory or via DNA sequencing). Turtles will be identified, photographed, and their carapace length measured, and then returned to the waterway. |
| September 2024 | September 2024 | Ongoing | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Spring monitoring Spring monitoring surveys will assess groundwater seepage to surface waters. This monitoring is planned for September and October. It will include installing monitoring equipment in some observed springs within the upper and lower reservoirs and locations along creek headwaters that flow into the National Park. Queensland Hydro will obtain the required permits to work within the National Park. Monitoring results will be used to understand local spring and groundwater systems better. |
| September 2024 | September 2024 | Ongoing | Upper reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Soil investigations Soil investigations are planned for the Upper Reservoir at the start of October. Work will involve obtaining soil samples via coring or augering. These will be sent for lab testing to better understand soil characteristics. A 4WD vehicle-based rig will be used to conduct the planned soil investigations. |
| September 2024 | October 2024 | Upcoming | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Historic Heritage In early October, the historic heritage team plans to conduct site-based surveys of potential locations of historic interest in Netherdale and Dalrymple Heights. These surveys involve two archaeologists inspecting the sites and photographing and GPS documenting any sites of interest. No ground-disturbing activities or excavations are planned. |
| August 2024 | September 2024 | Ongoing | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Groundwater survey Two different groundwater activities are proposed during September: 1: Groundwater bores between 20m and 80m deep will be developed in the upper and lower reservoir areas. These bores will target different groundwater layers and be monitored to improve our understanding of groundwater characteristics. A small drill rig will be used to construct the bores, each estimated to take up to five days to complete. Once completed, the tops of the bores will be encased in a concrete plinth and, if necessary, surrounded by a protective fence. Loggers will be installed to monitor groundwater levels, and samples will be taken periodically to assess groundwater quality. 2: Some geotechnical bores will be monitored for groundwater levels and quality. This involves using a small compressor to clean or purge the wells. Similarly, loggers will be installed to monitor groundwater levels. |
Works notifications – completed activity
| Date notified | Where | Works |
|---|---|---|
| August | Lower Reservoir | Flora and fauna surveys A general flora and fauna survey of several properties took place in September. The survey involved daytime and nighttime surveys and was conducted by a qualified team of four ecologists. Survey work included (but was not limited to): – Additional survey of potential habitat for greater glider and Koala – Confirmation of vegetation community types in previously unsurveyed areas – Targeted survey for threatened plants – Spotlighting – Call playback – Active searches for reptiles |
| August | Upper Reservoir | Terrestrial Ecology Terrestrial ecology studies took place in early September in the Upper Reservoir. The survey transected the wetland areas around the upper reservoir areas, and during the survey, the ecologists searched for Latham’s Snipe – a wetland bird that is listed as vulnerable and migratory under the EPBC Act – that has been found in the area. There is a requirement to survey during the breeding season to detect individuals that remain (i.e., don’t migrate). The survey included a bird census (survey) targeting species more likely to be present in winter months in both the proposed upper and lower reservoirs. |
| August 2024 | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Groundwater dependent ecosystem A groundwater-dependent ecosystem (GDE) study was completed in mid-September in the upper and lower reservoirs. This multi-disciplinary study targeted areas within Eungella National Park and gathered information on groundwater system locations, extent and ecosystem linkages. The survey gathered data on: – Terrestrial flora and fauna in the vicinity of potential GDEs in Eungella National Park – Aquatic flora and fauna in and around potential GDEs – Water quality associated with potential GDEs – Hydrological characteristics of any potential GDEs encountered. |
| August | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Soil surveys Queensland Hydro completed soil sampling investigations at the end of August 2024. This work follows the initial site works completed in January 2024. Over 75 sites were surveyed within the Dalrymple Heights and Netherdale areas. The surveys included visual observations and hand augering to a depth of up to 2m. At some locations, deeper test pits may have been dug using an excavator (noting that these pits would be refilled as soon as the survey at the site was completed). Soil samples were also collected for laboratory testing. Two teams of personnel conducted the work. These teams were in a 4WD vehicle for these soil sampling activities. The Queensland Hydro team assessed all sampling locations before the sampling to ensure all safety and environmental requirements were met and that the team could safely access all locations. No intrusive survey sites were completed within 50 metres of a watercourse. |
| August 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Noise and vibration survey Noise and vibration testing were completed in August. The team collected data from a geotechnical drilling site in the upper reservoir to support environmental management activities from the works. Small teams of acousticians used monitoring equipment to conduct an environmental noise and vibration survey in the project area and its surroundings. The survey documented and quantified the existing acoustic environment, establishing a baseline for understanding the local environmental noise and vibration conditions. To collect the environmental data, the acousticians measured noise and vibration using hand-held equipment and installed equipment that remained in the local area for a few weeks. The noise measurements included noise testing with a speaker to understand how noise travels in the local area. |
| August 2024 | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Historical Heritage Field Survey A Historical Heritage Field Survey was planned for August. The team comprised two heritage practitioners, both qualified archaeologists and trained specialists in identifying, assessing, and recording historic (non-Indigenous) heritage. Heritage’s practitioners surveyed both on foot and in light vehicles. The survey method was a visual inspection only. No physical sampling or ground disturbance works were conducted. Where an element, site, or area of potential heritage value is identified during these surveys, this is captured using a combination of hand-held GPS equipment, SLR photography, and mobile phone-based recording forms. |
| August 2024 | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Water and sediment quality Periodic water and sediment quality monitoring was completed in August. The team collected samples from various locations within the study area. Basic water quality readings will be taken on-site, and samples will be sent to a laboratory for more detailed analysis. |
| August 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 1 drilled one borehole within the Lower Reservoir on private property. This was to a depth of 143m and took 30 days. |
| August 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 2 was on private property on Dalrymple Road until mid-September. This borehole, up to 430m deep, informed the proposed location for the maintenance access tunnel borehole. |
| August 2024 | Lower Reservoir – Netherdale | Drill rig 4 completed drilling on three private properties from late July until mid-August. Location 1- This borehole, up to 110 metres deep, took around three weeks to complete. Location 2 – This borehole is up to 25 metres deep and took week to complete. Location 3 – this borehole was 143 metres deep, and took around one month to complete. |
| July 2024 | Upper Reservoir | Drill rig 1 completed two boreholes within the Upper Reservoir on two private properties. The first took two weeks to complete, while the second took 20 days. |
| June 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Access tracks An access track has been installed on private property adjacent to Dalrymple Road in the proposed Upper Reservoir A. This access track will ensure the safe movement of vehicles, people, and equipment while completing studies in this location. |
| June 2024 | Upper Reservoir | Drill rig 2 – completed a 40m drill in the Upper Reservoir on private property. This took ten days to complete. |
| June 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 4 – completed a 40m borehole, and it took an estimated two weeks to complete. |
| June 2024 | Lower Reservoir – Netherdale | Drill rig 1 completed a 30m borehole on private property within the Lower Reservoir, and it took an estimated . one week to complete and will inform the southern road alignment. |
| June 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 2 is planned to be on private property on Dalrymple Road and is expected to remain there until mid-September. This borehole, up to 600m deep, will inform the proposed location for the maintenance access tunnel borehole. |
| June 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 3 is planned to be on private property off Dalrymple Road and will remain there for up to five months. This vertical borehole will be up to 900m deep and provide information on the type of rock expected to be found at the proposed locations for the water inlets, outlets, tunnels and power cavern. |
| June 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 4 drilled on two properties. Location 1 – completed a 40m borehole and took two weeks to complete. Location 2 – completed a 130m borehole and took an estimated three weeks to complete. It will inform the proposed Upper Reservoir A dam wall. |
| June 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 5 drilled on two private properties at the end of Boons Road, Dalrymple Heights. Location 1 – completed a 40m borehole, and took an estimated ten days to complete. This work will inform the proposed Upper Reservoir A spillway. Location 2—completed a 450m borehole and took around three weeks to complete. It will inform a proposed alignment of the emergency cable and ventilation tunnel (ECVT). |
| May 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 6 commenced at a private property on Dalrymple Road in mid-May and remained there until August. This borehole, up to 550m deep, informed the proposed location for the maintenance access tunnel borehole. |
| May 2024 | Lower Reservoir – Netherdale | Drill rig 1 drilled on three private properties on the southern side of Mackay-Eungella Road. Each borehole took ten days to complete. The boreholes at each location were between 30m and 40m deep, informing the Mackay Eungella Road realignment and the proposed lower reservoir dam wall. |
| May 2024 | Lower Reservoir – Netherdale | Drill rig 2 was in 10 different locations in May. These boreholes were for groundwater testing and monitoring and did not collect core samples. Because they did not collect core samples, each borehole took around three days to establish and range from 15m to 40m in depth. |
| May 2024 | Upper Reservoir – Dalrymple Heights | Drill rig 4 was on private property off Blacks Road until mid-June. This borehole, up to 130m deep, informed the proposed Upper Reservoir dam wall. |
| May 2024 | Upper & Lower Reservoirs – Dalrymple Heights & Netherdale | Terrestrial Ecology In May, three small teams of ecologists completed a further round of seasonal surveys across 18 locations, focusing on the national park, nocturnal species, and frogs and resurveying areas where more data is required. This survey included: – Visual vegetation and fauna survey – Animal call detection recording equipment may be installed to record animal calls over time. This is particularly useful for recording bats’ calls, which are inaudible to humans. – Motion sensor cameras may be installed to monitor and collect data on fauna movements. – Nighttime spotlighting, where ecologists use spotlights to look for nocturnal fauna – Nighttime animal call playback, where ecologists play recorded animal calls using a megaphone and listen for responses. This is particularly useful for recording data on owls. Ecologists who complete these surveys are fully qualified and have fauna handling licences, animal ethics permits, and scientific research permits for national parks. The information collected in this round of terrestrial ecology surveys gathered new information from the national park, where access has been limited to date and other geographical areas. This one-week survey was conducted in both upper and lower reservoir locations. |
| May 2024 | Lower Reservoir – Netherdale | Groundwater Survey As noted above, Drill rig 2 drilled boreholes for the groundwater monitoring survey across ten locations during May, mainly in the lower reservoir. The boreholes ranged from 15m to 40m in depth. Licensed water bore drillers and hydrogeologists were involved in the drilling, bore construction and pumping tests. Qualified hydrogeologists or environmental scientists were engaged in ongoing monthly monitoring. Groundwater bores are included in ongoing monthly monitoring to record groundwater levels and water quality. This study informs the modelling of potential groundwater impacts from the proposed infrastructure. Drilling for the groundwater survey started in May and continue until November. Depending on the agreement with landholders, the infrastructure around all constructed water bores will either remain permanent features or be removed, and the boreholes will be rehabilitated. |
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