General News
5 September, 2024
EDITORIAL: Stop playing games and get the job done
North West Queensland needs CopperString to secure its long-term future.
There is concern in the North West that CopperString’s future is in doubt and, heading into a state election, it’s time for our political leaders to be transparent about their plans for the project.
Both Steven Miles and David Crisafulli must come out and tell the people of North Queensland that they will commit to getting the job done, even if it costs more than first anticipated.
It’s been 18 months since the Queensland government took on the project, and yet we still don’t have final designs for the 840km transmission line that promises to unlock a range of projects in our part of the state.
We’ve seen this happen before, albeit a bit further south.
The Victorian government said it was committed to hosting the Commonwealth Games, until the day Premier Daniel Andrews said it was pulling the plug, citing the rising costs.
And the inland rail? Not only has the cost blown out, but the project has been scaled back so much that it is now just a shadow of what was first proposed.
Considering that construction has yet to begin on CopperString, we’re concerned it’ll be easy for a new government to pull the pin on a project that encompasses a political seat that neither of the major parties feel they can win.
That’s why we are calling on both Labor and the LNP to make this commitment and get the job done, regardless of how difficult it might be.
A $6.2 billion project is exactly what the North West needs right now. Not only will it provide a major economic stimulus during the five-year construction phase, it will also pave the way for new projects to begin, benefiting all Queenslanders.
However, prospective miners and renewable companies say that if CopperString is canned, their
projects also face the same fate.
Mr Miles and Mr Crisafulli, it’s time for you two to step up.