Since its inception, the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project has been surrounded by controversy, but Queensland Hydro’s latest actions reveal a troubling pattern of deception and disregard for community welfare. Queensland Hydro was recently discovered setting traps in Cattle Creek, an area home to our beloved platypus, and when confronted, Queensland Hydro have withheld crucial information about the incident despite repeated requests. This incident is yet another example of their ongoing failure to engage transparently with the communities they are impacting.
Environmental Negligence in Action
On September 27, 2024, Queensland Hydro’s environmental team set trapping devices in Cattle Creek as part of their so-called aquatic ecology studies. This area, known for its sensitive platypus population, has a history of wildlife fatalities due to similar traps. Understandably, the community raised concerns immediately, questioning the safety and purpose of these devices. Queensland Hydro claimed the traps were designed with safety features like floats and air tunnels but failed to provide photographic evidence to support these claims.
Refusal to Provide Crucial Information
Despite multiple requests from Save Eungella, Queensland Hydro has consistently refused to provide the detailed information necessary for transparency. They have claimed that the trapping devices were in line with animal ethics permits administered by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), yet when asked to present these permits, they have not complied. This lack of response not only violates their own stated commitment to transparency but also raises serious questions about whether they are following proper regulatory processes at all​.
Further compounding this issue is Queensland Hydro’s refusal to clarify why these trapping activities took place outside of the defined boundaries of their most recent Investigation Area. Queensland Hydro's unwillingness to provide an updated map showing the full scope of their investigative work only adds to community suspicions that they are concealing the true extent of their operations. This disregard for transparency leaves locals feeling ignored and their concerns unaddressed​.
Queensland Hydro’s Pattern of Deception
This incident is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of Queensland Hydro withholding information and failing to engage with the local community meaningfully. Despite numerous emails and follow-up attempts, Queensland Hydro’s responses have been evasive and incomplete. For a project of this scale, Queensland Hydro’s lack of transparency only deepens community mistrust and raises alarms about the safety and environmental implications of their operations.
A Call for Accountability
Save Eungella remains committed to advocating for full transparency from Queensland Hydro. Queensland Hydro must take immediate action to release the requested documentation, clarify the boundaries of its investigative work, and engage directly with the community to address their concerns. The people of Eungella deserve to know the true impact of this project and have a right to hold Queensland Hydro accountable for any actions that threaten the environment or their way of life.