Crisafulli’s CopperString promise challenged by resources minister

What do LNP leader David Crisafulli, Resources Minister Scott Stewart and maverick politician Bob Katter have in common? The significance of CopperString. But there’s a white elephant in the room.

LNP leader David Crisafulli speaks at the recently held Bush Summit in Townsville, where the significance of CopperString was reiterated. Mr Crisafulli gave a clearer position of his views on the project this week. Picture: Liam Kidston

Opposition leader David Crisafulli pushed back against doubts an LNP led government would disregard construction of the CopperString transmission line, as he highlighted it as a “generational piece of infrastructure” for North Queensland.

He believed it could redefine North Queensland communities’ economies in the same way that energy had expanded Gladstone’s.

But there is doubt facing the opposition’s determination to complete Powerlink’s CopperString project after its reported costs skyrocketed by $1.2bn.

Powerlink’s chief executive Paul Simshauser said cultural finds and ruggedness of the territory had forced realignments of the transmission line spanning 840 km from Townsville to Mount Isa, which on top of international demand for construction materials had increased from the projected cost from $5bn.

In the lead-up to the state election in October the blowout had concerned industry advocates such as Townsville Enterprise, which believed the LNP only offered a “partial commitment” to the project as reported costs increased.

Chief Executive Officer of Powerlink Paul Simshauser at the official opening of the CopperString Experience Centre, during which he explained the causes of the project’s inflation. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mr Crisafulli said “the only risk” to CopperString was if the Labor Government was re-elected, and if the project’s costings continuously increased.

“We will deliver that project and it will be done on time and on budget,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“It is the opportunity to unlock the whole growth potential of the north and north west.

“It is the defining project that can ensure that life in communities that have been at the mercy of energy that has not been reliable or affordable for generations can have that.

Queensland Deputy Premier Cameron Dick at the groundbreaking of the CopperString project at Hughenden.

“I’ll accept the scare campaigns from the Labor Party because that’s what they do, that’s business as usual.

“Townsville Enterprise know our position on that and we’ve communicated to them how clearly we are supporting the CopperString and it will occur, and it will occur because governments can deliver things on time and on budget.”

Mr Crisafulli continuously blames cost blowouts on the State Government and said it was the responsibility of ministers to ensure projects were completed at the costs and times that were promised, whether that be transmission lines or major roads.

Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals Scott Stewart, Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick and CopperString regional reference group chairman Tony McGrady at the official opening of the CopperString Experience Centre. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart rejected implications that ministers such as himself should be blamed for CopperString’s rising costs, and said that it would be out of control of an LNP led government.

“What he (Mr Crisafulli) doesn’t realise is the cost of construction has gone up significantly over time, particularly since COVID-19,” Mr Stewart said.

“So for him to make that commitment, I don’t know where he’s plucking those figures from.

“When he gives commitments of there’s not going to blowout in costs, I doubt that.”

Federal Kennedy MP Bob Katter said CopperString was significant to his electorate, especially for the wealth of vanadium but also for what it meant for power generation. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Stewart said CopperString was being funded through coal royalties, and that if costs increased further it would be something for the treasury to address if it happened.

“We have scoped that work, we are doing that work, we’ve started that work,” he said.

Kennedy Federal MP Bob Katter said he believed CopperString was under threat unless it had genuine bipartisan support, and warned Mr Crisafulli had not yet been clear on his determination for the project.

Mr Katter claimed that Hughenden had the potential to become the site of the biggest power station in Australia through wind generation.

“I’m against wind but in this case because it’s an exceptionally good site, yeah, it’s competitively priced,” Mr Katter said.

“Infinitely more importantly is there are four vanadium mines, and I’d say we’re talking about $3,000m a year in production, (that) can’t go ahead unless CopperString gets there.

“There are 11 new copper mines, the major cost input item is not labour, it is electricity.

“They are not going to go ahead unless CopperString gets there, now that’s what I know of, but there would be numerous other developments that I don’t know of.”

Originally published as Crisafulli’s CopperString promise challenged by resources minister