Coal vs. hydro-electric — governments at odds over north Queensland power supply

The ABC’s Andree Withey reports (2.5.17) on state government plans to build a hydro-electric power station at Burdekin Falls Dam in north Queensland, which is at odds with the federal government’s preference for a new coal-fired power plant.

‘Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan wants a new coal-fired power station built in Queensland, despite the state’s insistence it would prefer greener solutions.

‘Mr Canavan said there was no base-load power generated north of Rockhampton, in central Queensland, and the power and economic needs of the north needed to be secured.

‘Flagged sites included the mouth of the Galilee basin or at the now idle Collinsville power station. Mr Canavan said it was hypocritical for Queensland to be opposed to be coal-fired stations, considering its exports.

‘… Mr Canavan said state plans — announced on the weekend — to build a hydro-electric power station in the Burdekin Falls Dam, south of Townsville, would not be enough. “It is a tiny power station,” Mr Canavan said.

‘Queensland’s Energy Minister Mark Bailey said a new coal fired power station in the north would be expensive, bad for the reef and climate change. He said Queensland was opposed to any new coal power, and the focus was on clean energy sources.’

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