KAP tips hat to Labor help

KATTER’S Australian Party says it would welcome the Labor state government taking ownership of the Copperstring transmission line project to help secure the region’s future.

“Government should be the one controlling the strategic assets. Government ownership has always been our strong preference,” KAP leader Robbie Katter said.

“But at this point, words are meaningless.

“We want to see poles going in the ground.”

Mr Katter was commenting after announcements this week pointed to the government taking control of the $2.5bn transmission project led by Townsville company Custring Pty Ltd.

On Monday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Future Industries wants to develop a “super hub” of big wind and solar farms near Hughenden. The company intends to lodge development applications for two projects shortly but needs upgraded transmission infrastructure to connect to the state’s electricity grid.

Ms Palaszczuk said the transmission infrastructure between Townsville and Hughenden would be built by the government as part of its $62bn Energy and Jobs Plan.

Asked if that meant taking over Copperstring, Ms Palaszczuk said the next stage would be to assess its environmental approvals.

The government’s energy and jobs plan says it is developing a “government-led model” to connect Mount Isa to the electricity grid and will investigate opportunities to partner with the federal government.

Mr Katter said the transmission infrastructure was critical.

“None of the projects that the Premier is so excited about will be realised unless a transmission line is built and connects North West Queensland to the national electricity market in Townsville – they’re all pipedreams until then,” Mr Katter said.

Custring managing director Joseph O’brien said they had been working “very positively’ with the government under the Copperstring Implementation Agreement announced in 2020.

“Now that all environmental approvals are in place for Copperstring, we are focused on finalising the delivery model with the Premier and the Queensland Government consistent with the Energy and Jobs Plan,” Mr O’brien said

“The important thing for Custring, a business founded in Townsville, is that we get the approved transmission network built, as the economic opportunity from minerals and renewable energy for North West and North Queensland is immense and needs to be unlocked.”