CopperString Project

Project overview*

EIS status	EIS active
Description	A 1,100-kilometre 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	Townsville City Council Burdekin Shire Council Charters Towers Regional Council Flinders Shire Council Richmond Shire Council McKinlay Shire Council Cloncurry Shire Council Mount Isa City Council
Investment	$1.5 billion
Key features	1,100-kilometre high-voltage electricity transmission line support towers every 400-600 meters new sub-stations at Woodstock and Chumvale, near Cloncurry optical fibre network capability 120-metre-wide easement access tracks for construction and maintenance construction camps
Expected completion	2024
Jobs	Up to 400 (construction) 30 (operational)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Date	Activity
Currently	Draft EIS being prepared by proponent.
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.