CopperString 2032, led by Powerlink, initially involves building 840 kilometres (km) of new electricity transmission line from Mount Isa to near Townsville. It will connect Queensland’s North West Minerals Province to the National Electricity Market for the first time in Australia’s history. Approximately 200km of additional transmission line will be required to connect new renewable generators to CopperString 2032.
The project includes:
The project broke ground in July 2024 in Hughenden with the construction of the workforce accommodation and facilities.
CopperString 2032 is on track for completion by 2029, with commissioning and energisation of the transmission line expected by 2031.
CopperString 2032 is the most significant investment in economic infrastructure in North and North West Queensland in generations. Unlocking affordable renewable energy and our critical minerals will benefit Townsville, Mount Isa, and every town in between – supporting thousands of jobs and billions in investment.
Powerlink, together with its construction partner, UGL and CPB Contractors Joint Venture, is delivering CopperString 2032, this once in a generation project for North and North West Queensland.
In July 2024, CopperString 2032 officially broke ground in Hughenden with the construction of the Hughenden workforce accommodation and facilities.
Due to the size and scope of CopperString 2032, the project has been staged to ensure timely delivery and safe travel distances for workers.
To house the workers who will build CopperString, Powerlink will build six workforce accommodation sites along the alignment at strategic locations including Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Pentland and Charters Towers.
In July 2024, construction commenced on the Hughenden workforce site, the first and largest built along the corridor. The Hughenden workforce accommodation will also remain throughout the entire construction schedule and be home to 450 workers at its peak. The Hughenden workforce accommodation will be completed in early 2025.
In September 2024, Powerlink began construction in Richmond on the second workforce accommodation along the CopperString 2032 corridor.
The project will continue to move west towards Mount Isa with workforce accommodation sites built in Julia Creek and Cloncurry.
Powerlink is committed to providing genuine opportunities for industry participation and maximising the benefits that can be delivered through ethically, environmentally and socially responsible procurement.
We are working closely with the UGL CPB Contractors Joint Venture (JV) to progress opportunities for local and Indigenous businesses to be involved in the CopperString 2032 supply chain.
| 52 works packages released and 2244 EOIs received |
| 682 suppliers registered, 238 local and 537 have QLD offices |
| Indigenous business have submitted an EOI for 73% of all works packages released |
| 76 national and 34 local Indigenous business submitted interest |
*Correct as at August 2024
There will be many opportunities to supply goods and services to CopperString 2032 along the corridor and during construction. You can register your interest by:
Having an up-to-date capability statement is an important part of registering your interest in providing goods and/or services to CopperString 2032 as it helps Powerlink and the UGL CPB Contractors JV to understand your business and what you can offer.
Project procurement is being undertaken by Powerlink and the UGL CPB Contractors JV.
Powerlink is responsible for the procurement of specialised transmission line componentry and electrical plant.
The UGL CPB Contractors JV is responsible for procuring suppliers and subcontractors for the project’s work packages and ensuring these packages are accessible to local industry. They will also procure smaller items and services directly while still following procurement procedures.
Successful suppliers are encouraged to engage local and Indigenous suppliers as secondary subcontractors to support the local downstream supply chain.
We have partnered with Deborah Wilson Consulting Services to facilitate a ‘Pathways to Opportunities’ capability building program.
This program is being offered free of charge in line with Powerlink’s commitment to helping build business capability in communities along the CopperString 2032 corridor.
Launched in July 2024, this program includes five workshops and one-on-one assistance for a period of nine to 10 months, at each location. These workshops are open to businesses along the CopperString 2032 corridor.
The program will help local suppliers to:
Workshop 2: Be prepared to tendering will be held in Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Julia Creek in February 2025. Registration information will be shared on our website soon.
For more information on the program, please refer to the Supplier Capability Development Program FAQs below.
We’ve also created a CopperString 2032 Supplier Information Guide to step you through the procurement process.
If you have questions or would like to know more, please contact your local project engagement representative, call 1800 635 369 or email [email protected].
For more information about the project's Australian Industry Participation Plan please contact Susannah Greenleaf, Manager Community & Stakeholders, by email [email protected] or calling 07 4796 5453.
Powerlink is committed to ongoing genuine and timely engagement to ensure we deliver positive outcomes for landholders, local communities, other stakeholders and the environment where our transmission infrastructure is located.
If you have any questions, please contact your local Engagement and Community team member via phone 1800 635 369 or email [email protected].
Share your views via our feedback form
The CopperString project team is always out engaging with the community and sharing news about this once in a generation project. Keep an eye on our project page and Powerlink’s social media channels to find out when we’ll be in your community.
| Date/s | Time | Event | Event type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 November | 3:00pm – 6:30pm | Townsville Enterprise AGM | In person – ticketed event Get tickets | The Ville Resort-Casino - Townsville |
| 27 and 28 November | All day conference | The Townsville Summit | In person – ticketed event Get tickets | The Ville Resort-Casino – Townsville |
| 28 November | 5:00pm – 7:30pm | Townsville Enterprise Invest Townsville North Queensland Launch | In person – ticketed event Get tickets | Flinders Lane – Townsville |
| 28 November | 7:00am – 8:30am | WISER North Queensland Leadership Exchange Breakfast | In person – ticketed event - https://www.wiser.net.au/events | The Ville Resort-Casino – Townsville |
| 30 November | 3:00pm – 7:00pm | Richmond Community Christmas Party | In person | Richmond |
| 6 December | 6:00pm – 9:00pm | Flinders Shire Christmas Street Party | In person | Hughenden |
We offer local community sponsorship opportunities that provide funds, resources or services that in turn support our corporate reputation and strategic goals along the CopperString 2032 corridor. Our framework highlights that sponsorship applications should ideally align with one or more of our key focus areas: empowering communities, protecting and conserving the environment and supporting safety and wellbeing.
If you are interested in submitting a sponsorship request, please review our sponsorship application framework and complete our application form.
Submit a sponsorship application
CopperString 2032 offers a unique opportunity to invest in North and North West Queensland communities, creating long-term benefits aligned with our commitment to sustainable development.
Powerlink is developing a model to support the delivery of its community legacy investments across all seven Local Government Areas along the corridor which will be implemented over the next 10 years.
The CopperString 2032 community legacy investment approach will support sustainable communities through projects or activities that align with the following two themes and focus areas.
Sustainable Communities – this includes the focus areas of community resilience, social capacity and the environment. Its objectives are to:
Economic Development – this includes the focus areas of local purchasing, skills and training, and employment. Its objectives are to:
Powerlink acknowledges and respects the ongoing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to their traditional lands.
CopperString 2032 continues to work closely with Traditional Owner groups along the project corridor including the Bindal People, Birriah People, Jangga People, Gudjula People, Yirendali People, Wanamara People, Mitakoodi and Mayi Peoples, and Kalkadoon People.
Landholder engagement is an essential part of the project’s environmental approvals and delivery process.
The CopperString 2032 project team is committed to engaging early, authentically and often with all landholders as the project progresses towards construction.
Landholder engagement, including access negotiation and questions and concerns relating to project design, will continue to be undertaken via our dedicated Landholder Relations team.
All activities are undertaken in line with agreed property entry conditions and Powerlink’s Land Access Protocol.
Powerlink is proud to be a member of all Chambers of Commerce along the CopperString 2032 corridor. We also work closely with advocacy and industry groups including Townsville Enterprise, MITEZ Economic Development and Regional Development Australia North and North West Queensland.
In 2024, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with James Cook University (JCU). This agreement with JCU will provide opportunities for local university students in the delivery of the CopperString 2032 project. Collaborative opportunities will include work-integrated learning, internships and research into renewable power systems and environmental and biodiversity impact and mitigation.
The CopperString 2032 project engages with nine Local Government Areas and includes the townships of Townsville, Ayr, Home Hill, Ingham, Charters Towers, Pentland, Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek, Cloncurry and Mount Isa. We continue to work closely with all Councils along the corridor to deliver CopperString 2032.
Since Powerlink took responsibility for project delivery on behalf of the Queensland Government in March 2023, the project’s transmission line design and supporting infrastructure have been refined.
The transmission line from south of Townsville to Hughenden is planned to be constructed at 500 kilovolts (kV) instead of 330kV. This will allow increased access to renewable generation in the Flinders Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) which has the potential to be one of the largest REZs in Australia.
This connection forms part of the Queensland SuperGrid which will allow a planned and cohesive approach to the state’s transition to renewable energy and forms part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
In addition, detailed design has been undertaken to confirm the most suitable location for the transmission line and supporting infrastructure.
Through this review, significant environmental and constructability impacts associated with the existing corridor have been identified east of Hughenden, between the Burdekin River and the proposed Mulgrave Substation.
The alignment follows one of the most extreme sections of the Leichhardt Range where access is not currently possibly. Heavy vehicle access is also very limited due to steep terrain and road constraints from the west as well as numerous irrigation channel crossings and narrow gravel roads.
Due to these significant constructability issues, Powerlink has investigated an alternative corridor between the Burdekin River and Reid River. This corridor takes into consideration these topographical constraints and extensive field investigations. Engagement with community, landholders and Traditional Owners will further refine and inform this corridor.
In August, Powerlink released a Recommended Corridor and Substation Site Selection Report which assesses the broad study area to identify a potential transmission corridor and substation site based on a range of social, environmental, economic and technical factors. The report was available for community and landholder feedback from the end of August through to early October.
The feedback received during this consultation period will be used to refine the corridor and substation location and ensure we have considered all matters of importance. Powerlink will release the Final Corridor Report in Q1 of 2025.
Development approval and land acquisition for the proposed transmission line and substation is planned to commence around mid-2025, with construction proposed to occur from late 2026.
In September 2022, the Queensland Coordinator-General published an evaluation report on the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) determining the project could proceed, subject to conditions, and was referred to the Australian Government for approval.
In November 2022, a delegate for the Australian Minister for the Environment and Water approved the ‘CopperString Transmission Line Project’ as a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), subject to conditions.
We are continuing to work alongside the Queensland and Australian governments to progress project approvals. At the same time, work is continuing on detailed engineering design, field and geotechnical investigations, cultural heritage and ecological surveys, community engagement and landholder consultation.
Powerlink requested that the Coordinator-General recommend to the Minister for State Development and Infrastructure and Governor in Council that Hughenden, Richmond and Julia Creek workforce accommodation and facilities works proceed under a works regulations amendment.
Under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act), a works regulation may be made that directs a local body – which includes Government Owned Corporations such as Powerlink – and/or the Coordinator-General to undertake works.
The works regulation was approved by the Governor in Council on 20 June 2024.
CopperString 2032 was endorsed for the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) assessment process on 20 May 2024. This process is managed by the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works with input from other government agencies.
Core transmission infrastructure such as substations, communications huts and transmission lines, and supporting infrastructure such as workforce accommodation (excluding Hughenden, Richmond and Julia Creek) will be assessed through the MID process.
CopperString 2032 will be progressed through the submission of several MID applications which align with project sequencing.
Preliminary engagement has been undertaken with impacted landholders, communities, and other stakeholders at a whole-of-project level to ensure those with an interest in the project had an opportunity to provide initial feedback.
Following lodgement of each MID proposal, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works will initiate consultation by writing to relevant local governments and impacted landholders to invite submissions.
During this time, Powerlink will also undertake public consultation with landholders, community members and other key stakeholders to share project information and how to make a submission to the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works.
Northern
Transmission Lines
Construction
Substation
Renewables
In Progress
If you need help accessing these documents, please contact us via [email protected] or call 1800 635 369.
