Media Release

Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has dismissed the Queensland Government’s planned hydro power station in Papua New Guinea as a “fantasy land” concept.

Mr Katter said the proposed project, which includes an under-sea cable – was not an economically viable way to power Queensland’s mid-west, particularly compared to the projects proposed for the North Australian Clean Energy Corridor.

“The cost of it will be wildly out of any feasible price range,” Mr Katter said. “Before this fantasy, we had the PNG gas pipeline. If they want to have dreams, they must be on a foundation of solid figures.

“If people want to go dancing with fairies, I wish they’d watch kids’ television instead of creating very serious distractions that enable the Brisbane government to avoid its responsibilities in providing base load power in North Queensland, instead of us having to face the enormous cost of carrying power 2000kms from south of Rockhampton.”

Mr Katter said projects such as the Pentland solar-biofuels proposal and Tully millstream hydro-biofuels would provide more cost-effective and reliable alternatives, providing hundreds of jobs in North Queensland.

“The Clean Energy Corridor is essential to providing baseload power to North Queensland,” he said.

“We’re not dealing in fantasy land – we have our feet firmly planted on North Queensland soil.

“Our hydro plan is entirely different – we are building the dam for a little bit of water diversion to grow bio-fuels. If the dam’s already there, it costs nothing to add hydro.

“Our cost, assuming the solar flagships grant, is grid competitive and will grow increasingly more attractive every day.”