Flinders Shire welcomes $5 billion CopperString energy project announcement

Flinders Shire Council has welcomed the Queensland Premier’s recent announcement of the 1,100 km CopperString 2.0 project to unlock Australia’s largest renewable energy zone.

The project will deliver high voltage power lines from Hughenden to both Townsville and Cloncurry, and another from Cloncurry to Mount Isa, to connect to the largest renewable energy zone in the nation and more than $500 billion in critical minerals.

CopperString will connect vast renewable wind and solar resources with critical minerals mining and processing that can be used to make batteries and renewables in North Queensland.

Hughenden and Flinders Shire will be the renewable superhub on the CopperString line, with more than 300 jobs in the area for construction phase of the project.

In addition, each new wind farm will require over 200 workers for construction.

Flinders Shire Mayor Jane McNamara said CopperString will enable renewable energy to be utilised by major and rare earth minerals sectors to use renewable energy for their mining projects and opportunities.

“This project presents great opportunities for the Shire for employment, businesses, accommodation, and other support services,” said Cr McNamara.

“This project is a result of the passion and tenacity of the O’Brien family and other supporters over the past 12 years.

“It is exciting to see this project come to fruition as a major development milestone for the future of North West Queensland and the North West Minerals Province.

“Thank you to the Queensland Government for supporting and taking on this major nation-building project.”

Construction will commence in late 2023, and continue through to completion in early 2032.