❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on engagement between government entities and specific groups regarding a pumped hydro project in Collie. The answer reveals past briefings and proposal submissions but no further progress.
AnsweredQoN 498Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUMPED HYDRO —
COLLIE
498. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the joint media
statement of 14 June 2022 from the Premier and the Minister for Energy entitled ''State-owned coal power stations to
be retired by 2030 with move towards renewable energy'', which notes
Synergy and the Water Corporation undertaking analysis to determine the
feasibility of a pumped hydro project in Collie; and to answers to my questions
without notice 420 and 441 of 9 and 10 May 2023 respectively.
(1) Have any of
the following groups registered an interest in, submitted a proposal for, or
engaged with any departmental or ministerial officer relating to the
development of a pumped hydro project in Collie —
(a) the Frederik
Suhren, Kevin Reynolds and Brian Burke–led Pump Hydro Collie group;
(b) the Seven
Group as an entity, or officers representing the Seven Group; and
(c) the Jemena
Group?
(2) If yes, what
formal or informal engagement has occurred with each group, on what dates, and
with whom?
COLLIE
498. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the joint media
statement of 14 June 2022 from the Premier and the Minister for Energy entitled ''State-owned coal power stations to
be retired by 2030 with move towards renewable energy'', which notes
Synergy and the Water Corporation undertaking analysis to determine the
feasibility of a pumped hydro project in Collie; and to answers to my questions
without notice 420 and 441 of 9 and 10 May 2023 respectively.
(1) Have any of
the following groups registered an interest in, submitted a proposal for, or
engaged with any departmental or ministerial officer relating to the
development of a pumped hydro project in Collie —
(a) the Frederik
Suhren, Kevin Reynolds and Brian Burke–led Pump Hydro Collie group;
(b) the Seven
Group as an entity, or officers representing the Seven Group; and
(c) the Jemena
Group?
(2) If yes, what
formal or informal engagement has occurred with each group, on what dates, and
with whom?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for some notice of the question, although I note that he
missed out reading part of question (1)(b) that I have before me.
Hon Dr Steve Thomas : It was
just repeated.
Hon MATTHEW SWINBOURN : Yes.
In any event, the following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for
Energy.
(1)–(2) Synergy
and the Water Corporation are undertaking analysis of potential locations to
determine the feasibility of a pumped hydro project in the south west
interconnected system. Pump Hydro Collie and Jemena
submitted proposals to Synergy in response to a general expression of interest
from 22 June to 15 July 2022 for storage opportunities across the SWIS. Pump
Hydro Collie presented to Synergy on 13 September 2022. Neither of these
proposals have progressed further. Pump Hydro Collie briefed the Minister for Energy on 22 October 2021 regarding a
pumped hydro project, with attendance by Mick Murray and Frederik Suhren
from Pump Hydro Collie, James Riordan from Griffin Coal and Daniel Smith, then with CGM Communications. Jemena briefed the
Minister for Energy on 10 June 2020 and 10 August 2021 regarding a pumped
hydro project, with attendance by Frank Tudor and Sami Zouad, both from Jemena.
Briefings from both companies were general in nature, regarding their
proposals. I cannot comment regarding any other agency or ministerial office
engagement on these or any other projects.
thank the member for some notice of the question, although I note that he
missed out reading part of question (1)(b) that I have before me.
Hon Dr Steve Thomas : It was
just repeated.
Hon MATTHEW SWINBOURN : Yes.
In any event, the following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for
Energy.
(1)–(2) Synergy
and the Water Corporation are undertaking analysis of potential locations to
determine the feasibility of a pumped hydro project in the south west
interconnected system. Pump Hydro Collie and Jemena
submitted proposals to Synergy in response to a general expression of interest
from 22 June to 15 July 2022 for storage opportunities across the SWIS. Pump
Hydro Collie presented to Synergy on 13 September 2022. Neither of these
proposals have progressed further. Pump Hydro Collie briefed the Minister for Energy on 22 October 2021 regarding a
pumped hydro project, with attendance by Mick Murray and Frederik Suhren
from Pump Hydro Collie, James Riordan from Griffin Coal and Daniel Smith, then with CGM Communications. Jemena briefed the
Minister for Energy on 10 June 2020 and 10 August 2021 regarding a pumped
hydro project, with attendance by Frank Tudor and Sami Zouad, both from Jemena.
Briefings from both companies were general in nature, regarding their
proposals. I cannot comment regarding any other agency or ministerial office
engagement on these or any other projects.
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