Daintree hydrogen info bid rejected
A FAR North conservation group has been left disappointed after their third request for details about a planned hydrogen power grid in the Daintree was knocked back by the federal government.
The Douglas Shire Sustainability Group (DSSG) has failed again in its application under the Freedom of Information Act to find details about a “shovel-ready” proposal outlined by the Morrison government in the budget earlier this year. A total of $19m was allocated for the gamechanging project.
DSSG president Didge McDonald said the refusal to release details, specifically about a $990,155 grant for the design of an electricity grid, and spending “public money” to support development in the World Heritage-listed rainforest was “outrageous”.
“There has been no feasibility or environmental impact study, community survey or project costing for the proposed grid or estimate of expected demand,” he said.
“It is outrageous to spend public money supporting more development in this place when its conservation and presentation islacking and should be the priority.”
The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources rejected the latest request, on the grounds that the documents “contain material obtained by the department in confidence” and that such a “disclosure would reveal commercially valuable information”, according to DSSG.
The Department has been contacted for comment.