CopperString 2.0 announcement could be looming after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk drops hint
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has hinted at a major announcement about one of the most anticipated projects in the North. Here’s the latest.
Townsville
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A concrete announcement on the long-anticipated CopperString 2.0 could be looming, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying it could be a topic of cabinet.
State government ministers are in Townsville for regional cabinet, and on Monday morning announced construction was starting on the new $17.2m expansion of TAFE Queensland’s Bohle campus.
When asked whether the government planned any announcements on CopperString; “Well, wait ‘til tomorrow,” Ms Palaszczuk replied.
CopperString is a 1,000 kilometre high-voltage overhead electricity line projected to connect Mount Isa and the North West Minerals Province to the national electricity grid near Townsville.
The project has been slated to support an increase of critical mineral mining activity by $132.6bn to 2050, and 800 full-time equivalent jobs during construction.
Ms Palaszczuk dropped the hint at a turning of the sod event for the new hydrogen, renewables and advanced manufacturing training centre, at TAFE Queensland Townsvilles’s Bohle campus.
The is expected to be completed in the latter half of 2023. The expansion will mean the TAFE can offer 20 new skill sets, certificates and diplomas, the Premier says.
The facilities would be world class, Ms Palaszczuk said.
However, the Premier was also questioned on attracting new people to the region, in the face of repeated youth crime incidents and rental housing shortages.
“The number one issue is people having a job … We want to see young people, of course, get a job, and not be in a cycle of crime,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Originally published as CopperString 2.0 announcement could be looming after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk drops hint
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