- Workers onsite delivering major earthworks for the new Flinders Substation, with local businesses benefiting through project contracts and support services.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering Copperstring, unlocking more than $700 billion in critical minerals and driving future investment across Queensland.
- Additional capacity to unlock new mining projects across Queensland’s North West Minerals Province after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering Copperstring, the biggest energy project in North Queensland’s history, with major earthworks underway at the new Flinders Substation, south of Hughenden.
Crews are on site delivering civil works, including construction of a new access road, upgrades to the Kennedy Developmental Road entrance and preparation of the future substation site.
Bulk earthworks at the Flinders Substation are expected to be completed at the end of this year.
The Crisafulli Government saved Copperstring with a record $3.2 billion in this year’s Budget after blowouts of nearly $12 billion under Labor, who never would have delivered the project.
Communities from Townsville to Mount Isa are also benefiting from the Crisafulli Government’s $50 million Community Benefits Fund for priority housing, water and local infrastructure projects.
Approved projects include Cloncurry’s Scarr Street Revitalisation project and Child Care Staff Housing Initiative, Richmond’s housing project, McKinlay’s Julia Creek Essential Workforce Village and Main Street Footpath Upgrade, Townsville solar and battery energy storage systems and street lighting efficiency and Charters Towers’ Water for Growth project.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said this was an important milestone with the Flinders Substation one of the first major pieces of Copperstring infrastructure to move into construction.
“Under Labor, Copperstring would have never seen the light of day and communities can have confidence the Crisafulli Government is delivering what it promised,” Treasurer Janetzki said.
“We have workers on site, local businesses including Wieben Earthmoving and the Warwombie Road Quarry are winning work, and construction is well and truly underway.
“Copperstring is more than a transmission line – it’s an energy solution for the North and North West and the progress is real including the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for further development works for a new battery storage and wind farm to power Dugald River Mine on the back of the $200m North West Energy Fund.
“The North West Minerals Province is one of the richest mineral producing regions in the world, potentially holding $700 billion in critical minerals and further unlocking opportunities will help deliver even more benefit for Queensland’s economy.”
Flinders Shire Council’s proposed multi-dwelling housing development in Hughenden was also recently approved by Government, which will improve essential infrastructure, increase housing supply and help communities capture the economic opportunities created by Copperstring.
