The Burdekin Falls Dam must be the most reliable big dam in the country. Fills every year with enormous volumes of water going over the wall.
It was built 20 years ago and Stage II, which included a higher wall and a hydro generation plant, was planned back then.
In spite of multi billion dollar surpluses federally and the enormous windfall (sin) taxes for the states nobody has had the foresight or will to complete it.
It's a worldwide shortcoming of governments that they would rather curry favour with the voters with tax cuts, whatever, than ensure their continued access to services.
The value of a nice sized hydro plant with plenty of water above it should never be underestimated. The Tully Falls station used to regularly deliver 105% of design capacity for months on end in good wet seasons. It would then go to peaking and freq. control. So much easier to turn a tap to meet demand than to put another log on the fire, especially if the demand might drop off again before the log heats up the boiler enough.
Politically, Burkekin Stage II would be a no brainer. It's scrub country and everybody would prefer to have the bigger Lake Dalrymple. Charters Towers could become a water sports Mecca. LOL
