CopperString Project

Project overview*

EIS status	EIS active
Description	A high-voltage overhead electricity transmission line connecting the North West Minerals Provence and Mount Isa to the National Electricity Market grid south of Townsville.
Proponent	CuString Pty Ltd
Location/s	The transmission line would run from a new sub-station at Woodstock, south of Townsville, to the Chumvale sub-station, near Cloncurry. Subject to demand, the line may extend west to Mount Isa and south to existing and potential mining operations. View map.
Local government/s	Mount Isa City Council Cloncurry Shire Council Mckinlay Shire Council Richmond Shire Council Burdekin Shire Council Charters Towers Regional Council Flinders Shire Council
Investment	$1.7 billion
Key features	approximately 740 km overhead high voltage electricity transmission line from Woodstock south of Townsville to Chumvale, near Cloncurry potential for additional network extensions of the electricity transmission line from Chumvale west to Mount Isa and south to Phosphate Hill and Cannington, increasing the length of the transmission line to approximately 1,100 km transmission support towers every 400-500 meters new sub-stations at Woodstock and Chumvale, near Cloncurry optical fibre network capability 120-metre-wide easement, narrowing to 60 metres wide in some areas access tracks for construction and maintenance construction camps
Expected completion	2024
Jobs	up to 750 construction jobs, with a peak construction workforce of 350 at any given construction zone 30 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

Date	Activity
Currently	Draft EIS and submissions being assessed.
23 February 2021	Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 4 March 2022
21 December 2020 to 12 February 2021	Draft EIS on public consultation. Draft EIS, including appendices.
4 September 2019	Terms of reference for an EIS ( 693 KB) released.
8 July to 2 August 2019	Draft terms of reference ( 647 KB) for EIS public consultation.
14 May 2019	Delegate for the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment decided that the project is a 'controlled action' A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth).
26 April 2019	Gazettal of 'coordinated project' declaration ( 246 KB).
February 2019	Initial advice statement submitted ( 7.3 MB) submitted.

Read more about the EIS process.

Last updated: Tuesday, Mar 2, 2021