EnergyAustralia’s planned Blackstone Power Station is inching closer to reality after Queensland’s Coordinator-General announced the approval of the project’s material change of use (MCU) application.

The approval covers a section of a gas transmission pipeline, sewer main and road works within the Bundamba to Swanbank State Development Area (BSSDA), held by the Coordinator-General and other parties.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said EnergyAustralia proposed to develop the 1500 megawatt gas-fired Blackstone Power Station in Swanbank-New Chum Enterprise Park, adjacent to the BSSDA, which would meet growing electricity demands from Queensland households and businesses.

“I welcome the Coordinator-General’s approval of the MCU application as an important step in the development and operation of the proposed power station,” Mr Seeney said.

“Apart from being a vital source of electricity, it is anticipated that the Blackstone Power Station project will initially inject up to $400 million into the economy, with a total of $1.8 billion by project completion. 

The MCU application covers:

  • 1.2 kilometres of a nine kilometre underground gas transmission pipeline which will source natural gas from the existing Roma to Brisbane Pipeline from a connection point at Redbank (the remaining 7.8 kilometres lies outside the BSSDA);
  • 1.2 kilometres of an underground sewer main; and
  • road works associated with the construction of the North-South Arterial and access to the adjacent Blackstone Power Station.