General News
5 March, 2025
CopperString has our support, says Powerlink
The government body has clarified its position on the $9 billion transmission line project.
The Queensland government’s electricity transmission operator says it remains committed to delivering CopperString after North West mayors spoke out last week when fresh concerns were raised about the immediate future of the $9 billion project.
Powerlink CEO Paul Simshauser told the Australian Financial Review that the project should start in Townsville and it was Powerlink’s preference to start from the coast, rather than from Hughenden.
A Powerlink spokesperson said the comments did not mean the government body was backing away from the project.
“Powerlink’s final investment proposal was submitted to the Queensland government in August 2024,” they said.
“Under the previous government, Powerlink was tasked with delivering the CopperString project with a target construction completion date of 2029.
“To meet the delivery parameters and constraints given to Powerlink, our assessment proposed commencing construction from Hughenden to the west while additional approvals were sought for the Eastern Link (from Hughenden to Townsville).
“Mr Simshauser’s comments reflect his drive to ensure the project delivers the best value for Queenslanders’ money, while also noting transmission projects are usually built off an existing network.
“He identified a range of potential benefits by re-sequencing construction if the existing parameters of the project did not exist, including the potential for resources and investors to tap into the Eastern Link as other parts of the project continue.
“In almost two years, Powerlink has undertaken an enormous amount of work to progress the project from concept to being construction-ready. We remain committed to delivering CopperString in a way that provides value for Queenslanders and their power system requirements.”
Anything less than 100 per cent commitment to completing the project would be unacceptable, said Flinders Shire mayor Kate Peddle, who is concerned that changes to the plan could delay the rollout of the high-voltage transmission line.
Mayor Peddle further emphasised the significant community investment in the Copperstring project, stating “Our community has already invested in this project.
“We’ve shaped our council budgets around it, businesses have invested in themselves to capitalise on the opportunities it will bring, and local students are already preparing for careers as linesmen,” she said.
“This project will have long-lasting, generational benefits for North Queensland and North Queenslanders understand that investing in projects like Copperstring is the only way to ensure a prosperous future.”
Mount Isa will be one of the big winners from the CopperString rollout, which should provide more affordable electricity than what is currently provided by the APA-owned Diamantina Power Station, which relies on gas.
Commerce North West president Johno Neilson said businesses were walking away from the North West due to the high price of power.
“We have mines in our region which have transmission lines running across their lease, but still run off diesel generators because it’s cheaper than the North West Power System (NWPS),” he said.
“Connecting the region to CopperString will ensure that we have cheaper, consistent and cleaner power.
“With the prospect of nuclear and renewables powering the National Energy Market (NEM), failing to connect the North West will lock us out of the growth opportunity for low-cost and reliable power offered to the rest of the country.”
Those thoughts were echoed by Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae, who added: “We believe in a future made in Australia, but if we are not connected to the NEM, we cannot manufacture anything in the North West Minerals Province and remain competitive.”