Definition: CopperString 2032 is a major high-voltage electricity transmission infrastructure project in Queensland, Australia, proposed by Powerlink Queensland (Queensland Electricity Transmission Corporation). The project involves the construction of approximately 1,000 kilometres of overhead transmission lines connecting the North West Minerals Province to the National Electricity Market (NEM) — making it one of the most significant energy infrastructure investments in Australia’s history.

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What is CopperString 2032?

CopperString 2032 is designed to connect the remote and resource-rich North West Queensland region to the broader Australian electricity grid for the first time. Currently, the North West Minerals Province operates as an isolated electricity network, relying primarily on diesel generation — a costly, carbon-intensive, and supply-constrained arrangement that limits the region’s economic potential and energy security.

By connecting this region to the NEM, CopperString 2032 would:

• Enable renewable energy development — unlocking significant solar and wind resources in North West Queensland that currently have no viable pathway to market
• Support the resources sector — providing reliable, competitively priced electricity to major mining and processing operations in the Mount Isa region
• Reduce energy costs — displacing expensive diesel generation with lower-cost grid electricity
• Create jobs — generating up to 750 full-time equivalent (FTE) construction jobs and 30 FTE operational jobs
• Drive regional economic development — stimulating investment and population growth in remote Queensland communities

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Project Specifications

The CopperString 2032 transmission network comprises three voltage segments, reflecting the varying load and generation requirements along the corridor:

• 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line — from just south of Townsville to Hughenden, forming the high-capacity backbone of the project
• 330kV transmission line — from Hughenden to Cloncurry, stepping down in capacity as the network moves further west
• 220kV transmission line — from Cloncurry to Mount Isa, serving the densest load centre in the North West

The project also includes:

• Up to six new substation sites — providing the voltage transformation and switching infrastructure needed to integrate the new line into the existing network
• Ancillary infrastructure — including worker accommodation camps to support the large construction workforce operating in remote locations

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Project Route and Location

The transmission line corridor runs broadly in a westerly direction from the Townsville region — where it connects to the existing NEM — across the Queensland interior to Mount Isa. A southern branch also runs from the Dajarra Road Substation to the Selwyn Substation, with a further connection south to the Woodya Substation.

The project traverses seven local government areas:

• Mount Isa City Council
• Cloncurry Shire Council
• McKinlay Shire Council
• Richmond Shire Council
• Burdekin Shire Council
• Charters Towers Regional Council
• Flinders Shire Council

This vast footprint — crossing hundreds of kilometres of pastoral and agricultural land — made the environmental and community assessment process one of the most geographically complex in Queensland’s recent history.

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Investment and Economic Significance

With a total project value of approximately $5 billion, CopperString 2032 represents one of the largest single infrastructure investments in Queensland. The project’s economic significance extends well beyond its construction cost:

• It is a critical enabler of Queensland’s North West Minerals Province — home to significant deposits of copper, zinc, lead, silver, and other critical minerals essential to the global energy transition
• It supports Queensland’s broader energy transition strategy by creating a transmission pathway for large-scale renewable energy generation in the state’s north and west
• It contributes to the decarbonisation of one of Australia’s most diesel-dependent regional economies

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Approvals History

CopperString 2032 underwent one of Queensland’s most comprehensive coordinated project assessment processes, spanning more than six years from initial submission to final approval:

Date	Milestone
February 2019	Initial Advice Statement (IAS) submitted to the Coordinator-General
26 April 2019	Project declared a coordinated project
14 May 2019	Federal delegate determines project is a controlled action under EPBC Act (EPBC 2019/8416)
8 July – 2 August 2019	Draft Terms of Reference released for public consultation
4 September 2019	Final Terms of Reference released
21 December 2020 – 12 February 2021	Draft EIS on public consultation
17 June 2021	Additional information requested by the Coordinator-General
12 October 2021	Revised draft EIS lodged by proponent
12 January 2022	Updated revised draft EIS lodged
28 February 2022	Final EIS accepted by the Coordinator-General
28 September 2022	Coordinator-General’s evaluation report released — project approved with conditions
11 November 2022	Federal approval granted under the EPBC Act — subject to conditions
22 September 2025	New lapse date for the evaluation report stated — extended to 28 September 2028

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Project Changes Post-Approval

Since the Coordinator-General’s evaluation report was released, Powerlink Queensland has applied for at least one formal project change:

• Project Change Application 1 — an amendment to the Hughenden workers accommodation camp, reflecting evolving construction logistics and workforce management requirements

The ability to apply for project changes is an important feature of Queensland’s coordinated project framework, allowing proponents to adapt their project within the approved framework without requiring a full reassessment.

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Proponent: Powerlink Queensland

CopperString 2032 is being developed by Powerlink Queensland — the Queensland Electricity Transmission Corporation — a Queensland Government-owned corporation responsible for planning, building, and operating the high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity across the state. Powerlink is also the transmission network service provider (TNSP) for Queensland within the NEM framework regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).

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Why CopperString 2032 Matters for Australia’s Energy Future

CopperString 2032 is more than a transmission project — it is a strategic piece of national infrastructure that sits at the intersection of Australia’s energy transition, critical minerals strategy, and regional economic development agenda.

As Australia moves to decarbonise its economy, the North West Minerals Province will play an increasingly important role in supplying the critical minerals — copper, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths — needed for electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy equipment. Providing this region with reliable, affordable, and low-carbon grid electricity is not just a local benefit; it is a national economic priority.

CopperString 2032 also demonstrates the long lead times involved in major transmission infrastructure — from first submission in February 2019 to an extended approval lapse date of September 2028, the project has been in the planning and approvals system for nearly a decade. This underscores the importance of early, proactive engagement with the approvals process for any major energy infrastructure project in Australia.

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Key Takeaway

CopperString 2032 is a landmark Queensland energy infrastructure project that will, when built, fundamentally transform the electricity landscape of North West Queensland. It is a powerful case study in the complexity, length, and importance of Australia’s major project approvals processes — and a compelling demonstration of why transmission investment is central to the success of Australia’s energy transition.

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Published on energyplanning.com.au | Energy Planning Glossary