Three major works packages have been awarded to Queensland-based companies for a “nation-defining” energy project.
Almost $190 million of contracts have been announced by Queensland Hydro for the Borumba Pumped Hydro Project: a planned 2000 MW renewable energy initiative west of the Sunshine Coast.
Water2Wire JV will be responsible for leading the engineering and design for the Borumba Project’s seven proposed dams, which involve six new dams to form a new upper reservoir, and one new dam wall and spillway immediately downstream from the existing Borumba Dam.
The replacement dam wall will see Lake Borumba increase its capacity, providing security to the proposed energy storage scheme.
The pumped hydro energy storage designer package was awarded to AFRY-Aurecon JV. The package will see AFRY-Aurecon advance the front-end engineering design documentation, focusing on the technical elements of the pumped hydro scheme itself, such as the interplay between the turbines, cavern design, tunnel waterway design and other equipment.
A contract totalling about $111m was awarded to Australian-owned engineering and construction company Decmil to design and construct two temporary workers’ camps on previously cleared freehold land on the site of the Borumba project.
The camps will be able to house up to 336 workers each, with each location containing a wellness room, gym facility, running track, social room and laundry facilities.
Minister for Energy Mick de Brenni hailed the contracts.
“This is a huge milestone for one of the most important renewable energy projects anywhere in Australia,” he said.
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“This major milestone means we have awarded three major works packages to Queensland-based companies to take forward the design of the reservoirs and the powerhouse.
“We’re bringing together local knowledge and global expertise to deliver what will be a nation-defining project to provide cheaper, cleaner and more secure electricity to all Queenslanders.
“The transition to renewable energy will see millions of dollars in regional development and investment that will support local economies, provide opportunities for community infrastructure advancements and create thousands of jobs for Queenslanders.”
Queensland Hydro CEO Kieran Cusack said the scheme would be of immense benefit.
“Pumped hydro is unquestionably the right technology to enable Queensland’s clean energy transition,” he said.
A Sunshine Coast company, meanwhile, has won a share of a contract to undertake essential surface-level geotechnical drilling on the project.
GeoDrill Australia from Chevallum, Tier 1 Drilling from Morayfield and SJ Drilling from Jimboomba were successful in their tenders to provide a combined $25 million of drilling.
“We’re thrilled to be part of the Borumba Pumped Hydro Project as it represents a significant opportunity to further develop our capabilities in renewable energy,” GeoDrill Australia and GD Water Solutions managing director Thomas Partleton said.
