Investments in infrastructure

Coal royalties are helping to fund productivity-enhancing investments across regional Queensland needed to support key growth industries and facilitate the energy transformation critical to drive increased employment opportunities and higher incomes into Queensland’s future.

In the 2023-24 Queensland Budget coal royalties are supporting projects including:

CopperString 2032 $1.06 billion – the $5 billion CopperString 2032 project, a 1,100km power transmission line from Townsville to Mount Isa, connecting Queensland’s North West to the national electricity grid. It will deliver reliable, affordable, and renewable power to the people, businesses and communities in the region.

Pumped Hydro – 7 gigawatts of large-scale, long-duration pumped hydro across 2 regional sites.

$6 billion in coal royalties are helping to fund the Borumba Pumped Hydro project, located west of Gympie on Borumba Dam, which will provide enough clean, green energy to power up to 2 million homes with 2 gigawatts of 24-hour storage.

$1 billion from coal royalties are helping to support the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project, located west of Mackay, forecast to be the largest pumped hydro energy storage in the world.

Central Queensland wind and solar $800 million – 2.3-gigawatt portfolio of wind and solar projects by CleanCo in Central Queensland and help CS Energy pursue investments in new wind projects that support future industrial decarbonisation of the region.

Fitzroy to Gladstone pipeline $550 million – vital water projects including the Fitzroy to Gladstone pipeline which will provide long-term water security to the Gladstone area and support current and emerging industries.

Burdekin Falls Dam $440 million – Sunwater’s Burdekin Falls Dam Improvement and Raising project to improve and raise the dam by 2 metres to further support water security in the region.

Port of Gladstone Northern Land Expansion $100 million – release of additional land at Gladstone Port assisting the development of renewable energy and other industries.

Bowen Wharf $50 million – replacement of the Bowen wharf to support continued community access with the plans, designs, and approvals subject to further consultation with stakeholders.

Browne Park $29 million boost – redevelop the home of rugby league, Browne Park, Rockhampton. A new 3,500-seat grandstand, change rooms, food and beverage outlets, and media and coach facilities to create central Queensland’s leading sports and entertainment venue.

To find out more about where coal royalties are being invested, take a look at Budget Measures, Chapter 2.

Last updated: 14 February 2024