- The Crisafulli Government's $200 million North West Energy Fund secures progress for new battery storage and wind farm to power Dugald River Mine along the CopperString corridor.
- A new $20 million commitment for road improvements and utility upgrades to help safe and reliable passage for transport operators and large equipment.
- CopperString progressing with tender awarded for bulk earthworks at Flinders Substation.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering CopperString and a better lifestyle through a stronger economy, after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for North and North West Queensland announcing major developments to its CopperString project.
Through the Crisafulli Government's $200 million North West Energy Fund Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) has negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for further development works for a new battery storage and wind farm to power Dugald River Mine along the CopperString corridor.
The project, the first to benefit from the North West Energy Fund, is a two-stage development consisting of up to 24 wind turbines producing up to 144MW backed up by a battery energy storage system. When delivered in full, the Dugald River Wind Farm has the potential to power MMG's mine and feed energy back into the broader North West Power System.
Despite blowouts of nearly $12 billion under the former Labor Government, the Crisafulli Government is delivering a record $3.2 billion in this year's Budget to unlock $10 billion of renewables investment and deliver the biggest energy project in North Queensland's history.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said the MoU was the perfect example of private sector investment benefiting from the North West Energy Fund.
"The long-term operation of the Dugald River Mine is critical to the North West and this is a welcome step forward toward delivering on a plan for more affordable, reliable and sustainable power," Treasurer Janetzki said.
"The Fund is designed to pay forward the benefits of CopperString by investing in localised energy solutions which enable development of economic opportunities now.
"That is what industry participants and communities need in the North West and there are other proposals also under consideration by the Fund."
MMG Dugald River General Manager Dr Tim Akroyd welcomed the Crisafulli Government's support describing it as a landmark opportunity.
"This endorsement will help support a final investment decision on the first stage of the wind farm, which has the potential to benefit not only Dugald River Mine, but the highly prospective North West Minerals Province as a whole," Dr Akroyd said.
"We are targeting 80-plus per cent of our power to be sourced from renewables as we position Dugald River as a mine of the future – one that embraces technology, electrification and long-term investment in the region."
Treasurer Janetzki said the Crisafulli Government would also provide funding for the enabling infrastructure works between Townsville and Cloncurry required to support the development of works.
Under the programme of works, $20 million will be spent within the corridor to support critical upgrades to roads and electrical infrastructure supporting construction activity and movement of large-scale equipment.
"Building CopperString requires major infrastructure and our roads and other infrastructure will need to be ready to support the scale of work ahead," Treasurer Janetzki said.
"By investing early, we are strengthening local infrastructure, enabling safe movement of heavy equipment while delivering long-term benefits for communities."
The Crisafulli Government has also announced it has awarded the first tender to regional Queensland based company McCosker Contracting to undertake bulk earthworks at the Flinders Substation near Hughenden, supporting early works on the Eastern Link of the CopperString project.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said earthworks would commence within weeks and initially around 20 workers would be accommodated at the Hughenden Workers Accommodation Facility throughout the project.
"The tender award for bulk earthworks at Flinders Substation is the next step in a project that will unlock the region's mineral wealth, strengthen industry, create jobs and drive economic growth – as well as connecting the region to the National Electricity Market," Treasurer Janetzki said.
"The North West Minerals Province is one of the richest mineral producing regions in the world, potentially holding $700 billion in critical minerals. Further unlocking opportunities will help deliver even more benefit for Queensland's economy."
