Queensland treasurer flags extra $1.4b in state budget for CopperString
Queensland's treasurer has vowed the government will not pay for further cost increases to the multi-billion-dollar CopperString 2032 energy project, after allocating more money in this year's budget.
Treasurer David Janetzki revealed in Townsville that $2.4 billion had been committed to the project, an increase of $1.4 billion from the previous Labor government's budget.
The 1,100 kilometres of power line network from Townsville to Mount Isa would connect towns and mines to the national electricity market for the first time.
In April, the government announced private investment would be sought after costs blew out to $13.9 billion, a figure contested by government-owned corporation Powerlink, which costed the project at $9 billion late last year.
Mr Janetzki said CopperString 2032 would go ahead, but stressed its details were still under review.
"I want to make sure CopperString doesn't cost $13.9 billion dollars," he said.
Earlier this year, the state government announced a major change to the scope of the project — that Powerlink would begin construction on the Hughenden-to-Townsville section of the project, while private investment was being sought to construct the Hughenden-to-Mount Isa section through the Queensland Investment Commission.
"There will be additional investment into CopperString in the years ahead," Mr Janetzki said.
"There will need to be, but I'm very clear we will be delivering that for less than $13.9 billion.
"What I want to see is QIC do its work."
Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle said her community — centred on the western Queensland town of Hughenden — was tired of announcements and wanted action.
"I joke with our councillors that we have one bottle of champagne left in the fridge and we'll be leaving that until we see one tower go up," she said.
Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick said the government was being deliberately misleading about whether it would deliver the project in its entirety.
"We're going to hold this government to its promises to deliver CopperString all the way from Townsville to Mount Isa, and we see the government moving away from that promise," he said.
Construction work on the transmission line is expected to start in Hughenden by the end of the year.
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