General News
10 July, 2024
Mayors praise CopperString but call for better roads and rail in North West
The $5 billion project won't reach its full potential without reliable transport links.
A high voltage power network will have tremendous economic benefits for the North West, local mayors say, but they are worried that CopperString won’t reach its full potential if the region’s failing infrastructure is not addressed.
Four of the five mayors in our readership were in Hughenden for the sod-turning, although it would have been easy to confuse it for a Townsville event, such was the focus on the port city.
It’s fair to say the mayors were not feeling the love from Premier Steven Miles and his Ministers as around 100 people heard about the great benefits of CopperString to the east coast and very little about Mount Isa and the surrounding communities.
And when you consider the history of CopperString and how it was dreamt up as a way to better service the mining towns of Mount Isa and Cloncurry, the government leaders may have missed the mark.
McKinlay Shire mayor Janene Fegan, who told this masthead last week that she was concerned Julia Creek would miss out on any of the benefits of CopperString, left with no real answers from the Premier or Powerlink.
There are no current plans to build a substation in Julia Creek and McKinlay Shire is sweating on a report that could sway a change due to the presence of critical minerals in the nearby area.
Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae, who drove 520km to Hughenden on a stretch of Flinders Highway that urgently needs replacing, said she was concerned that new mines wouldn’t be able to do business in the North West with the existing infrastructure challenges.
She said the road wasn’t fit to take on more road trains.
“If you speak to the prospective miners, and even some of the existing miners, they say the rail system is so broken they have no option but to use trucks,” she said.
“While we think Mount Isa will benefit greatly from CopperString, we are concerned that we won’t see the full benefits because there are issues with the rail line.”
Cloncurry Shire mayor Greg Campbell was unable to be at the official proceedings on Tuesday but has said publicly that access to affordable water is a major concern for mining companies.
The Premier wasn’t keen on going into any detail about the North West’s infrastructure shortcomings on Tuesday, but the Katters – state MP Robbie and federal MP Bob – say they will keep fighting for more funding to bolster projects in the region.
In the meantime, Flinders Shire mayor Kate Peddle said she was rapt that Hughenden was chosen as the starting point of CopperString, with work to begin on a workers camp this month.
The town’s economy will be bolstered as a result and should result in historic benefits for the community.
“As local government leaders, we face the challenge of securing long-term financial independence,” the mayor said in her speech on Tuesday.
“In the Flinders Shire and other regional councils along this run, our rate base accounts for only a small percentage of our total revenue. I’m hopeful that through projects like this, we can pave the way for a stronger financial future and achieve the industry growth we need to reach our financial independence.
“This is just the beginning of our story and we must continue to work together to build upon the legacy this incredible project will create.
“Congratulations to all involved and let us move forward with determination and unity to achieve the greatest success we desire.”