Funding Announcement for CopperString Project Welcomed

Mayor Danielle Slade has welcomed the announcement by the Queensland Government that it will commit $14.8 million to the proposed $1.5 billion CopperString high-voltage powerline project to connect the North West to the National Electricity Market on the east coast.

“This funding brings this once-in-a-lifetime project one step closer to becoming a reality and is excellent news for Mount Isa and the North West Minerals Province,” Cr Slade said.

“CopperString 2.0 will lead to a significant increase in the scope, size and capabilities of the region’s mining industry, because a connection to the National Electricity Grid will reduce the cost of electricity for mining operations, minerals processors and other industrial customers.

“This will safeguard the future of thousands of mining jobs and greatly improve business confidence and the competitiveness of the mining sector for generations to come, which will have very real flow-on benefits for local communities in the North West.

“It’s estimated that the construction phase alone of the CopperString project will create 750 new jobs.

“This is the sort of major infrastructure project our region needs now more than ever.

“I welcome this funding announcement and look forward to seeing the CopperString 2.0 project progress.”

The CopperString project will deliver a 1100-kilometre high-voltage transmission line – the nation’s largest geographical expansion of the National Electricity Market – and integrate the North West’s isolated power supply with North Queensland and the rest of the state’s electricity network.