General News
12 June, 2024
Major milestone for CopperString with construction to begin on workers camp
Places like Hughenden and Richmond will see hundreds of workers living in purpose-built camps.
A new era is set to descend on the North West with the first construction milestone of the CopperString 2032 corridor expected to start in Hughenden as early as next week.
The triangular shaped Lot 129, currently controlled by Flinders Shire Council, will be ground zero for the construction phase of the $5 billion high-voltage electricity transmission line, as the 17-hectare property is transformed into an accommodation site that will provide office, housing and living facilities for up to 540 workers.
The official sod-turning at the camp site is expected to occur in the coming months with a range of possible attendees being flouted as political leaders clamour for good news stories in the wake of looming state and federal elections.
Flinders Shire mayor Kate Peddle said Powerlink and its building contractors had been granted early access to the lot following approval of an interim lease agreement.
The interim agreement was made after Powerlink admitted it would not be in a position to finalise the terms of its permanent lease until the end of the year.
Cr Peddle said she expected construction of the Hughenden workers camp to start soon after Powerlink took control of the lot on June 20.
She said the interim agreement would provide an additional four-to-five-month window for Flinders Shire to negotiate its long-term project proposals for the infrastructure that would remain once the CopperString scheme is completed in 2029.
“Construction of the workers camp in Hughenden is going to be the first cab off the rank for the Powerlink project,” the mayor told North West Weekly.
“We are hoping to have 400 to 500 men in that camp by about January next year, which will come close to doubling our Hughenden town population.
“I’m grateful we could come to an early access interim lease to allow more time to properly investigate the more than five-year lease, including potential legacy projects to assist in our community services.”
The Hughenden camp site will eventually accommodate the construction workforce of both the Flinders substation and high-voltage transmission lines.
The site, which will reach a peak of about 540 workers for two years but will generally house about 410 workers, will include offices, meeting rooms, vehicle wash-down facilities, a refuelling bay as well as kitchen, laundry and recreation rooms.
The camp has a design life of up to five years and is then expected to be decommissioned and removed from the area.
According to a Queensland Coordinator General’s Office report released last month, the original location of the Hughenden work camp had to be recently changed to avoid a flood risk from the Flinders River as well as a need to accommodate a higher number of workers.
It is understood Powerlink has finalised its Local Economic Participation Plan and there are currently 18 businesses within the 125km local economic radius that have registered for sub-contracting roles.
Cr Peddle said the main project contractors had requirements placed on them by Powerlink that favoured engaging local businesses where possible for subcontractor roles, such as cooking, fencing, maintenance and cleaning services.
She said Powerlink provided advisory services for local businesses to find opportunities to participate in the infrastructure project rollout.
“Now is the time for businesses in our region to pick up the phone and have a conversation with Powerlink about how they might be involved with this project,” she said.
Powerlink is also finalising its social impact study, following consultation with North West councils, emergency services and local businesses, and is expected to lodge the final draft with the Coordinator General in the coming weeks.
Cr Peddle said the camp was unlikely to have a major impact on community services, with Powerlink likely to provide its own full time paramedic and ambulance service.
She said no additional police were expected to be required at Hughenden.
“Powerlink are putting measures into place that will make themselves largely self-sufficient and not have a large impact on the wider community,” she said.
“We don’t expect there to be many detrimental impacts to the community.”
In a statement, CopperString project director Tom Dockray said Hughenden would play a vital role.
“Not only is this due to its location along the line, but so too due to the positive partnership with the Flinders Shire Council,” Mr Dockray said.
Richmond Shire mayor John Wharton hosted Powerlink officials on Monday as community consultation is set to begin on a proposed accommodation camp near the town that is expected to house up to 300 workers.
He said construction of the Richmond workers camp was on track to commence before the end of the year.
“Nothing beats construction – it is going to be a big economic driver for our community,” Cr Wharton said.
“We will see plumbers and builders and electricians in our town and the money that is spent will go round and round our town.”