Capricornia Pumped Hydro receives approval for EPBC referral variation

Capricornia Pumped Hydro has received approval for a variation to its referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act). The approved variation updates the project’s footprint to reflect the current design. The footprint for the reservoirs and construction areas is slightly larger, while the transmission line footprint is slightly smaller, resulting in an overall footprint increase of about 2%. The project’s location, 750MW capacity, 12GWh of storage and core purpose remain unchanged.

Why was the proposal varied?

Capricornia Pumped Hydro was referred to the Australian Government in 2023 based on an initial concept design.

Since then, detailed engineering, environmental and construction investigations have allowed the project design to be refined. The variation was the formal process to update the Australian Government’s environmental assessment to reflect these changes.

Importantly, the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) soon to be released for public comment has assessed the current project design described in the variation. This means the community will be reviewing an EIS based on the latest design, rather than the original 2023 concept design.

For those who have been following the project and attending our community information sessions, the changes outlined in the varied proposal application won’t be new. We’ve been keeping the community updated as the project design has progressed. The variation approval now formally confirms the changes to the proposal under the EPBC Act.

What has changed?

The key changes include:

• the powerhouse is now proposed to be underground

• some construction areas and supporting infrastructure have been refined

• the lower reservoir has been enlarged by raising its minimum operating level and full supply level, increasing the dam height and footprint to improve fish management and the overall energy and engineering performance of the scheme

• the upper reservoir has consequently been enlarged to match the increased volume of the lower reservoir and provide water reserve capacity.

The project's location, 750MW capacity, 12GWh of storage and core purpose remain unchanged.

What is a varied proposal application?

A varied proposal application is a formal process provided for under section 156A of the EPBC Act.

It allows a project that has already been referred under the EPBC Act to be updated where the proposed action has subsequently changed. Rather than withdrawing the original referral and starting the referral process again, a proponent can ask the Federal Environment Minister to accept the changed project as a varied proposal.

The Minister then considers the application and decides whether to accept the varied proposal. Under section 156B of the EPBC Act, the Minister must be satisfied that the character of the varied proposal is substantially the same as the original proposal before accepting it.

Why has the Capricornia Pumped Hydro design changed?

When Capricornia Pumped Hydro was referred in 2023, the project was at concept design stage. Detailed engineering and environmental investigations were still underway.

As these investigations have progressed through the EIS process, the project team has gained a much more detailed understanding of the engineering, environmental and construction requirements of the project. This has allowed the design to progress from the original concept towards a more detailed reference design.

What’s next for the Project?

A varied proposal does not approve the Capricornia Pumped Hydro project. The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be released for public comment by the Coordinator-General very soon, providing the community with an opportunity to review the assessment and provide feedback to the OCG.

Capricornia Pumped Hydro will continue to work with the Australian and Queensland governments as the assessment and approvals processes progress.

If you have any questions about the varied proposal, the project’s current design or the approvals process, please get in touch with the Capricornia Pumped Hydro team via email to info@capricorniapumpedhydro.com.au or call us on 1800 979 686.