Geothermal plant could also be spa resort

Innot Hot Springs

A geothermal developer has proposed that a power station 100 kilometres west of Cairns in North Queensland could also be developed as a world-class spa resort.
Planet Gas geoscientist Dr Michelle Spooner told a mining conference in Cairns this week that the facility proposed at Innot Hot Spring could not only deliver enough power for 10,000 homes, but could also be developed as a spa resort.
Planet Gas has a five year exploratory licence over the area and is set to intensify its $14 million research and exploration program.
Dr Spooner said the plant had a minimum potential of “at least fie megawatts” and could come on-stream as early as 2014-5. A five megawatt plant would cost around $23 million to build.
“It is also important we don’t ruin the tourist attraction of Innot Hot Springs and it could be enhanced with spa resort potential,” she said.
Water used in the generation of geothermal power would be returned to the reservoir after use, Dr Spooner said.