Australia's mining boom puts pressure on local communities

As towns near the mines for control of contract workers, rising rents and changes in the economic and social landscape

is still dark on a cold winter morning in central Queensland and a city bus into a large residence cul-de-sac. The bungalows here would not be out of place in a rural version neighboring countries, tall grass frieze ideal for children to play cricket.

But the bus did not come to pick up the kids. He is here to make their workers engaged in the mining town towers and construction.

Denise Robertson has lived here with her husband and three children for a decade. "We came to Moranbah, because it was full of families and children. Every year we had our Christmas barbecues on the street," he said. "It is now full of entrepreneurs, and we know it comes and goes."

September

three-bedroom apartments were built to fly-fly-out (FIFO) or drive-fits (Dido) workers in the mining industry in a single block at the end of the impasse. Five others were approved apartments behind the house of Robertson and there is a demand for another three to be built just opposite.

"Cars come and go so often do not know how many people live in the street, nothing more," said Robertson.

Moranbah, like many towns in the Bowen Basin Queensland is in the grip of the country's mining boom once in a generation. Area, 600 kilometers north of Brisbane and two hours drive from inside the Great Barrier Reef is home to the richest coal reserves in Australia and knows the ups and downs of a growing industry. The mining boom is helping the Australian economy buck global economic problems. However, there are disadvantages as well as local economies flourishing industries tilt and make it much more difficult for other businesses to prosper.

"There is nothing like what we see elsewhere in Moranbah," said demographer Bernard Salt, who recently completed a study area for the local regional council. The city has a population of 8,500 permanent housing. His non-resident FIFO / Didoworkers is estimated that the number of another 6500. Accommodation to house 3,500 workers easier has been adopted, which will be built on the south side of the city.

• "These are people like that who are at a turning point," said Salt. "Fear is the resident population increases working in the mining industry, the services of the region will so tense that the city will collapse on itself, "he said.

In the village square, shops closed skyrocketing rents. Some people prefer to manage the return of four hours on the coast to do their weekly grocery because the local supermarket is often confronted with the basics.

In the regional council, the situation is very similar. The number of non-residents is expected to grow 40% over the next year, the mines become operational. Workers are mostly attracted by high wages, currently estimated at more than twice the national average. But mining companies no city can fight to get personal. Roger Ferguson, who runs a motel in Moranbah, said he had to hire three workers from Thailand because he can not get local staff to fill vacancies. "People do not want to work for $ 25 [E 16] once you can earn $ 60-70 an hour to work in the mines," he said.

Moranbah Mayor Anne Baker, said his city is in favor of mining and a large part of its permanent residents in the industry. But he said: "It is difficult to maintain livability in your community if you will be flooded with non-residents."

She cites housing as the main obstacle to family reunification of the city. A four bedroom house in the city often costs A $ 10,000 per month for rent. To purchase would cost about $ 1 million.

"We need more affordable family housing," said Baker, who calls for more investment in infrastructure in the region.

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