Cloncurry is positioned in the heart of the largest renewable energy zone in the nation
With power and water the cornerstones to further developing Outback Queensland centres, Cloncurry Shire Council has welcomed the announcement from the Queensland Government to purchase Copperstring 2.0.
Copperstring 2.0 is a 1,100 kilometre, high voltage transmission line proposal to connect the North West Minerals Province to the National Electricity Market.
"Copperstring 2.0 will supply highly reliable electricity to communities and customers in North and North-West Queensland and deliver new opportunities for mining, industrial, and manufacturing enterprises, support major hydrogen and renewable energy projects and unlock the potential of irrigated agriculture on the fertile soils near Cloncurry," said Cloncurry Shire Mayor Greg Campbell.
"Importantly, Cloncurry sits at the crossroads of the construction area, meaning our town will play a vital role in the project, along with the opportunity it represents to increase mining production and expansion within the region," he said.
Construction is expected to support 800 direct jobs over six years and thousands of new jobs in critical minerals mining, manufacturing and construction of renewables. Early works on the $5 billion project will start this year with construction planned to commence next year.
New hope for Cave Hill Dam project
Mayor Campbell said the state's investment in Copperstring unlocks billions of dollars in new mining projects, many of which are to the south of Cloncurry.
"The announcement will provide renewed interest in the Cave Hill Dam project."
This project envisions a new dam that would have the capacity to hold approximately 140,000 mega litres and would be situated south of Cloncurry, placed well to support new mining projects.
"The Cave Hill Dam project has the potential to generate scores of new jobs in agriculture and hundreds of construction jobs over three years."
"The original driver for a dam was to provide sufficient, affordable water to develop an irrigated agriculture precinct. The construction of the dam will now be crucial to support the billion-dollar critical mining projects that are now possible, thanks to Copperstring."
COPPERSTRING 2.0
The Palaszczuk Government will deliver the 1,100 km CopperString 2.0 project to unlock Australia's largest renewable energy zone and more than $500 billion dollars in new critical minerals in North Queensland. Publicly owned transmission business Powerlink will lead work on the project.
"CopperString is the most significant investment in economic infrastructure in North Queensland in generations. Unlocking affordable renewable energy and our critical minerals will benefit Townsville, Mount Isa and every town in between – unlocking thousands of jobs and billions in investment," said Premier Palaszczuk.
ABOUT CAVE HILL DAM
A new water storage on the Cloncurry River, near the town of Cloncurry, is poised to change the socio-economic fabric of north-west Queensland.
- 140k ML Capacity
- 60ML Yield
- $500MIL Capex
- Cave Hill Dam to be located 40km south of the Cloncurry township
ABOUT CLONCURRY
Few places can claim to be as influential in shaping Australia as Cloncurry; birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and destination of the first Qantas flight. It is a community that celebrates outback life - the true Australian way.
- Cloncurry is located 780 kilometres west of Townsville, 120 kilometres east of Mount Isa and 1700 kilometres north west of Brisbane, nestled on the banks of the Cloncurry River
- Key industries in Cloncurry include transport, mining, pastoral and tourism.
- Population in the Cloncurry Shire is 3,644 people
- Main township in the Shire is Cloncurry, with Dajarra a small indigenous community 170 south west from Cloncurry and hamlets of Burke and Wills (three ways), Kajabbi, Duchess and Quamby
