Power plays in Townsville and Richmond

The trailblazing energy project CopperString has celebrated two milestones in North Queensland with the opening of the Townsville display centre and sod turning on their workforce accommodation site in Richmond.

CopperString 2032 Project Director Tom Dockray said Richmond is one of six accommodation sites that we will build along the corridor for CopperString workers, providing a comfortable home away from home.

“In July we commenced construction in Hughenden and launched our Supplier Capability Development Program, in August we opened the Experience Centre in Townsville and now …we have broken ground in Richmond,” Mr Dockray said.

“We are progressing rapidly and are on track to construct CopperString by 2029.”

Local school children in Richmond did the honours of turning the first sod, demonstrating the important connection between CopperString and the future generations who will benefit from it for decades to come.

This will be the second workforce site along the 840km transmission line corridor, with the first being in Hughenden also with construction delivery partner the UGL CPB Contractors Joint Venture together with ATCO Structures, who will deliver the workforce accommodation due for completion mid to late 2025.

The workforce accommodation in Richmond will house up to 250 construction workers. These workers will construct the nearby substation and progress the transmission line heading west towards Mount Isa. 

CopperString is set unlock potentially $500 billion of critical mineral deposits in the North West Minerals Province, with Richmond and Julia Creek home to one of the largest vanadium deposits in the world.

Work on the high-voltage transmission line is due to commence mid-2025 from Hughenden, travelling west towards Mount Isa. Once complete, work will then commence on the Eastern portion of the line from Hughenden back to Townsville.

What is CopperString?

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. 

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. 

4 Fast Facts on CopperString

• CopperString is a $5 billion project 
• CopperString is an almost 1,000 kilometre high-voltage transmission line that will connect Mt Isa to the SuperGrid for the first time.
• Supercharging the state’s North West will unlock the $500 billion North West Minerals Province and Hughenden renewable resources.
• It’s expected CopperString will be complete in 2029, weather and construction conditions permitting.

The project includes: 

• 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from Hughenden to near Townsville 
• 330kV transmission line from Hughenden to Cloncurry 
• 220kV transmission line from Cloncurry to Mount Isa 
• up to six new substation sites 
• six workforce accommodation and facilities in strategic locations along the corridor.  

Community and engagement 

If you have any questions, please contact your local Engagement and Community team member via phone 1800 635 369 or email copperstring2032@powerlink.com.au. 

The CopperString project team is coming to your community.