Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki is travelling the Townsville-to-Mount Isa CopperString corridor this week.

Mr Janetzki said the regional tour was an opportunity to discuss CopperString directly with local leaders and to provide them with much-needed certainty. 

It will include a visit to the Hughenden home of CopperString’s workers.  

The workforce accommodation facility is on track to be fully operational by September, with construction of the $225 million Hughenden Hub due to start later this financial year, pending approvals. 

Related: Communities on CopperString route set for $30m boost

“We’re committed to working in lockstep with local communities in a calm and methodical way, to ensure we’re delivering the best project for the North and North West,” Mr Janetzki said. 

“The approaching completion of the Hughenden workforce accommodation is a major milestone on the road to connecting energy projects to the National Electricity Market and unlocking the full value of the North West Minerals Province and serves as an example of our Government’s commitment. 

“Powerlink and Queensland Investment Corporation’s combined expertise will ensure the project is delivered efficiently and provide value for Queenslanders.” 

CopperString is a 1100km, high-voltage transmission line proposed to connect the North West Minerals Province to the National Electricity Market.

Related: Critical minerals industry in a CopperString rut

The concept has been advanced for years by private Townsville-based company CuString, but the State Government took the reins in 2023 and increased the project scope.

In April, Mr Janetski announced he was enlisting the QIC to help deliver CopperString after a series of blowouts taking the estimated cost to almost $14 billion.

He said at the time that prioritising the project’s Eastern Link would allow focus to be placed on connecting renewable generation in the proposed Flinders Renewable Energy Zone. 

Since then, the Queensland Government committed an extra $1.4 billion for the project in the latest State Budget, putting $2.4 billion on the table over four years.

The move failed to quell regional leaders’ concerns over the project roll-out, including what is planned between Hughenden and Mount Isa.

Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith said CopperString was the single most important enabling project in Northern Australia.

“It is encouraging to see the Treasurer travelling the Townsville to Mount Isa corridor this week,” she said.

“This is more than a road trip—it’s a signal of the importance this government places on North Queensland’s contribution to Queensland’s future economy.”

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