Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today announced that the trail blazing Pentland Project is one step closer to becoming reality as the Federal Government committed $2.5 million towards compiling a commercial report of the power component associated with the colossal project.

The commercial report targets the power generation in the Pentland area which would see some 126,000 ha of land assessed for the viability of agriculture, coal, mining and energy production.

Mr Katter said that the project would mean incredible things for the both the people of the coastal and inland communities in the north.

“Today is a very historic day for us. In 1980, people were standing here in Townsville as a similar announcement was made about Burdekin Falls. That was a project that that increased the size of North Queensland’s economy by some $600 million a year.

“This project will double the size of that and what we are seeing today is a wonderful achievement for north Queensland.

“With this project we will be provided with a great recreation location, an invaluable resource in both water and electricity and the biggest sugar mill enterprise in Australia (Mackay Sugar). Through this project we will produce ethanol and sugar; we will produce electricity and open the land for vast agricultural production."

Mr Katter said, “The money that was set aside by the ALP for the copper string project remains in the budget and I am committed to seeing it go to where it needs to be – here – to drive jobs and drive prosperity in this great region”

Mr Katter said the Pentland Project involved constructing a dam on Australia’s third biggest river, the Burdekin and a power station in the Pentland area which would provide cheaper, clean and limitless electricity which can feed the development of the northern end of the Galilee Basin.

“For the first time in 70 years we hope we’ll have a base load power resource in north Queensland.

“The Pentland Project is prospected to generate 800 megawatts per year of base and peak load power. This would meet all of north Queensland’s current power requirements. Most importantly, it feeds electricity into the Galilee Basin.

“With electricity, copper string and a small canal connecting the interior, the economy and population of north Queensland will nearly triple giving us a population comparable to the south-east corner."

Mr Katter argues that the Pentland Project “ticks all the boxes in sustaining Australian agriculture,” providing an alternative source of base load power to the Rockhampton power station and will yield $1,100 million per year in ethanol and $450 million in electricity from burning sugar cane fibre.

“This project has the potential to generate $30,000 million a year,” Mr Katter said.

“This commercial report will be overseen by a steering committee made up of representatives from Townsville Enterprise, Mackay Sugar, Guildford Coal, the relevant local and state government representation and MIPEZ.

“We sincerely thank the Treasurer and Federal Government. They have held strong on their initial concept for an energy highway for Australia. We also thank the people that have contributed, particularly Townsville Enterprise, Mackay Sugar, Guildford Coal and the local community who have fought like tigers to ensure that this sees the light of day.

“We hope this commercial report will be the harbinger in the irrigation of even bigger projects connected with the Pentland Project but one thing is absolutely certain – this project is definitely one step closer to becoming a reality,” Mr Katter said.