General News
4 June, 2025
Powerlink makes a strong commitment on legacy projects
Powerlink will start construction of its Flinders substation in the coming months and is finalising a list of legacy projects.
Powerlink has moved to quell concerns that local communities are being left behind in the fallout of its stalled CopperString development, claiming it still had “obligations” to deliver vital legacy projects to the North West.
It comes as local mayors hope this month’s state budget will provide some clarity on the future direction for the $14 billion transmission line project.
With the Richmond to Mount Isa section currently under government review, CopperString project director Tom Dockray said Powerlink would start construction of its Flinders substation in the coming months and was also finalising a list of legacy projects for Richmond and Hughenden.
He also said Powerlink continued to liaise with all councils along the proposed corridor through its Regional Reference Group (RRG) meetings and that efforts were proceeding to determine a list of legacy projects slated for Julia Creek, Cloncurry and Mount Isa.
Mr Dockray said a formal agreement on legacy delivery had been signed with Richmond Shire Council, with projects under consideration including lights at the Richmond racecourse and the development of a school camp at Fred Tritton Lake.
This is despite the town being a focal point for the stalled CopperString rollout, with construction of a workers’ camp recently coming to a standstill.
The 15 remaining CopperString workers in Richmond are set to depart in the coming weeks and accommodation and office dongas will be put in storage.
What will be left is an empty, half-developed block that will be fenced off, but Powerlink will continue to make lease payments to Richmond Shire Council. Up to 40 workers will soon be housed at the Hughenden camp for preliminary works, once a final occupancy agreement is signed with Flinders Shire Council, which will expand to up to 250 workers during peak construction of the substation.
Mr Dockray said Powerlink was focused on targeting legacy projects that assisted multiple council areas at once.
“We have developed social impact management plans with Richmond and Hughenden, which include examples of projects that the councils would like to see developed,” he said.
“Those management plans have also been agreed to by the coordinator-general’s office, but during our consultation work we have then been able to look at trends or themes – so where there are two towns that have a common need, we can take a broader approach.”
Mr Dockray made the comments at the Renewables Energy Forum in Hughenden on Friday, where concerns over the level of community consultation was a constant theme of the gathering.
Flinders Shire mayor Kate Peddle said she anticipated an announcement in the state budget.
“I can only hope this will help restore confidence among our local contractors and provide that direction we seek as local government areas,” she said.
“The previous government committed to a powerline, and the current government has the task of transforming the entire economic corridor. This is no easy task, but it will certainly yield a return on investment and provide a better future for our children.”
Richmond mayor John Wharton said he was optimistic CopperString would be delivered to his town and across to Mount Isa.
“I think everyone needs to just take a breath and let the process run its course,” he said.