Tully hydro makes sense

DEVELOPING the Tully Millstream hydroelectric scheme is a no-brainer.

Despite opposition from green groups and the state Labor government, all opportunities to reduce the rising cost of power must be taken into account.

Electricity is a major cost and worry for most families.

While the Palaszczuk government is backing solar and wind farms, it’s against any hydro schemes that involve the flooding of land, especially rainforests.

If a hydro scheme can mean the end of a polluting coal fired power station, then so be it.

It is estimated Tully Millstream would cut carbon emissions by more than one million tonnes a year.

Hydro schemes are renewable energy, something which the Palaszczuk government bangs on about, and have been around for more than 100 years.

It is expected the Federal Government will soon announce the funding for a new feasibility study for the project.

A lot of the work already has been done. A 1995 report estimated the cost at $700 million with a sevenyear construction phase employing 1100 people.

New studies would take into account modern construction and hydro-turbine standards. The plan involves drawing water from the Koombooloomba Dam, down 700m to three 200MW generators, creating 600MW of power for more than 100,000 homes

About 4300ha of land would need to be inundated for water storage, about 1290ha in the World Heritage Area.

However, life is all about compromises and sacrifices.