There has been a major cost blow out to a massive power project in north Queensland. A high voltage electricity line will cost a billion dollars more than expected. The state government has already signed of on the increase with both Labor and the LNP backing the development.
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00:00CopperString 2.0 is an ambitious project in the state's north to build a 1,100 kilometre
00:10high voltage transmission line from Townsville to Mount Isa.
00:14Set to cost $5 billion, the project's now blown out by $1.2 billion.
00:21This is not money that was in the budget because these cost increases have become known since
00:26I delivered the budget.
00:27While promising a new satellite hospital for Bing Lee, the Premier says Labor will
00:32push forward with the now $6.2 billion project if re-elected in October.
00:38This is a really important project for our state though.
00:41It will link world-leading solar and wind resources from places like Ewanden into the
00:49super grid.
00:50The opposition leader says the LNP supports the transmission line.
00:54We are committed to delivering CopperString.
00:57We are also committed to delivering things on time and on budget.
01:00While the Premier and opposition leader both agree on the importance of the CopperString
01:052.0 project, they clashed over plans for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
01:12David Crisafulli hit out at Mr Miles over plans to host athletics at the Queensland
01:18Sport and Athletics Centre.
01:20There's only one person in Queensland who believes that CUSAC, which is out at Nathan,
01:25is a very good option.
01:26So it's definitely going to happen.
01:29That's certainly my view.
01:30Earlier this year, the state government said it would upgrade existing venues for $7 billion.
01:36The business case for the CUSAC upgrade won't be completed until next year, after the state
01:43election.
01:44And if it says it doesn't stack up?
01:48I think it will, rather than say yes or no, I think it will say how.
01:52The LNP has promised a 100-day review of Games infrastructure if it wins office.