NQ mayors call on state government to fund CopperString
North Queensland mayors have called on the state government to get the CopperString transmission project under way.
Townsville
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As the state government looks set to buy the CopperString project, mayors across the North are calling on the state to commit so the project’s construction can begin.
Meanwhile, the project’s proponents, the privately owned CuString Pty Ltd, warn that contractors may go elsewhere if there is no commitment.
The 1000km high-voltage transmission line project between Townsville and Mount Isa, in planning for more than three years, is now at a point where work can now begin.
But the state government, under its just released 10-year energy plan, has declared they will build the line under a “government-led model” as part of a “super grid”.
The Labor government is committed to maintaining energy assets in public ownership.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said mayors of the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils on Friday agreed to send of letter of support for the project to the Premier.
“We are calling on government to fund the project,” Cr Hill said.
She said the project was “extremely important” to connect planned solar and wind projects at Hughenden with industry and the electricity grid.
Former Mount Isa mayor and state minister Tony McGrady, who now leads the project’s Regional Reference Group, called on the government to commit to construction.
“Once the Queensland Government approves the government-led delivery model, there is no barrier to construction of CopperString starting. Unlike many proposed projects in the government’s $62bn Jobs and Energy Plan, CopperString has key environmental approvals in place, is costed, supported and ready to go,” Mr McGrady said.
CopperString founder and chairman of CuString John O’Brien said the project was the most advanced of its kind in the country with its environmental approvals in place and engineering, procurement and construction contractors — UGL and CPB — in place.
Mr O’Brien said a key risk was that if the state did not give the go ahead now other projects in the south, particularly in NSW, would capture the construction resources that were available.
“For North Queensland and all of Queensland it is critical to move now,” Mr O’Brien said.
The government has said its energy plan will deliver the transmission infrastructure but is yet to confirm it will buy the project from CuString.
It says the Government is working closely with the proponents on a government-led model that will connect the resource-rich North West Minerals Province to the Super Grid.
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Originally published as NQ mayors call on state government to fund CopperString
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