CopperString 2032 involves the construction of 840 kilometres (km) of new high-voltage electricity transmission line between just south of Townsville and Mount Isa which will connect Queensland’s North West Minerals Province (NWMP) to the National Electricity Market for the first time in Australia’s history.

Embedded in the UGL CPB Contractors Joint Venture (the JV), BBS supported the stakeholder and community engagement efforts of Powerlink Queensland’s multi-billion CopperString 2032 project.

Our team members played a critical role in leading the stakeholder and community engagement team from inception in 2023. BBS developed the JV’s strategic approach to Communications and Community Engagement, generating the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Community Liaison Plan. The team was also instrumental in developing the project’s approach to Local Economic and Indigenous Participation, including its collaborative approach to ‘Suppliers as Stakeholders’ in recognition of the drive for local and regional employment and supplier opportunities, which will be integral to the success of the project.

BBS also supported the team to manage and execute community engagement efforts ahead of the start of construction, focussing on industry and community engagement events including ‘meet the buyer’ community information sessions and stakeholder engagement in key localities along the 840km alignment for the new high-voltage transmission line.

The team was heavily involved in developing key communications collateral and marketing materials and establishing the JV’s culture and values, and intranet portal to support internal communications. Working with the team from an early stage, BBS played a key role in ensuring all communications align with the project’s goals, objectives and audiences – designed in a way to ensure transparency and effective evaluation at each key stage.