Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro project

Proposal to develop a pumped hydro electricity generation facility involving construction of an upper reservoir and repurposing the mine pit created by the existing Mount Rawdon Mine for the lower reservoir.

Status

Terms of reference

Jobs

TBC

Investment

TBC

About the project

a generation facility, comprising a lower storage (formed by the decommissioned mine pit), upper storage (formed by a purpose-built valley fill dam), waterway tunnels linking the two storages, underground power station, switchyard and associated access works
an electricity transmission line and substation, connecting the generation facility to the existing Powerlink transmission network
upgrades/duplication of the existing water pipeline (connecting the generation facility to Paradise Dam), comprising a pump, pipes and power supply to enable the first fill of the generation facility

Proponent	Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro Pty Ltd
Location	Approximately 75 km south-west of Bundaberg. Find this and other projects on our map.
Local government	North Burnett Regional Council and Bundaberg Regional Council
Key features	a generation facility, comprising a lower storage (formed by the decommissioned mine pit), upper storage (formed by a purpose-built valley fill dam), waterway tunnels linking the two storages, underground power station, switchyard and associated access works an electricity transmission line and substation, connecting the generation facility to the existing Powerlink transmission network upgrades/duplication of the existing water pipeline (connecting the generation facility to Paradise Dam), comprising a pump, pipes and power supply to enable the first fill of the generation facility temporary facilities required during the construction phase, comprising a construction camp (including water and wastewater systems), concrete batching plant, quarry, laydown areas and material stockpiles.

Environmental impact assessment process

This project has been declared a coordinated project by the Coordinator-General under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. We play a role making sure benefits and risks are managed through a rigorous assessment process, and that approvals are coordinated across local, state and federal jurisdictions. Find out more about the coordinated project environmental impact assessment process.

Declaration date	11 October 2022
Assessment process	Coordinated project requiring an environmental impact statement (EIS) Bilateral assessment for a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).
Current stage	The draft EIS being prepared by the proponent
Declaration lapse date	16 December 2028

Assessment milestones

Date	Activity
Currently	Draft EIS being prepared by proponent.
23 October 2026	Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 16 December 2028.
5 December 2024	Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 16 December 2026.
16 June 2023	Terms of reference for EIS ( 964 KB) released.
4 March 2023 to 11 April 2023	Draft terms of reference ( 985 KB) for EIS public consultation.
16 November 2022	Australian Minister for the Environment and Water decided the pumped hydropower energy storage component of the project is a ‘controlled action’. A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).
11 October 2022	Gazettal ( 289 KB) of 'coordinated project' declaration.
27 September 2022	Australian Minister for the Environment and Water decided the transmission line component of the project is a ‘controlled action’. A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).
27 June 2022	Application, including Initial advice statement ( 8.2 MB), submitted.

Further information

Find out what it means to have a project declared ‘coordinated’ – with details of the process, the benefits and what kinds of projects can potentially be declared.
Explore other coordinated projects.

Last updated: 28 October 2026