Today we turn a page in our history books for North Queensland and North West Queensland! Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced in Townsville that the State Government will acquire CopperString 2.0 and build the 1,100km transmission line between Townsville and Mount Isa.
This transmission line will not only sustain our current mining and processing industry in the North West, but it will unlock $740 billion worth of untapped known minerals in the region. It will also unleash 33GW of green energy potential along this corridor.
This announcement marks more than a decade of intense advocacy by the leaders of North and North West Queensland and Townsville Enterprise. We have been asking the State Government for a timeline for the CopperString project and the Premier has delivered.
We thank the Premier and the State Government for their commitment to our region and recognising the important role the North will play in the State's renewables future.
The Premier said CopperString was the most significant investment in economic infrastructure in North Queensland in generations.
“Townsville will become a renewable manufacturing epicentre between the world and the largest renewable energy zone in the nation and the world class North West Minerals Province,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Our region has what the world wants, and with CopperString we will lead the renewables revolution.
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the region had vast reserves of critical minerals like copper, zinc, vanadium and cobalt that the world was demanding to procure batteries and renewable energy as part of a decarbonisation plan.
“CopperString 2.0 will help create opportunities for resources companies to develop critical minerals projects and the broader North West Minerals Province,” Mr Stewart said.
“This announcement is bigger than just Townsville and North Queensland, it’s a Eureka moment for the whole world.”
Construction is expected to support 800 direct jobs over six years, and thousands of new jobs in critical minerals mining, manufacturing and construction of renewables.
Townsville Enterprise thanks its members and partners. Without their generous contributions and support our vision to secure the future of Townsville North Queensland would not be possible.
