December 10 2006

Central Queensland population soars with new report findings: Fraser

Almost 11,000 people who were previously unaccounted for in Central Queensland’s official population statistics are finally standing up to be counted.

A new survey, released today by Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser, shows the 10,700 non-resident workers are living in the CentralQueenslandBowenBasin area while they work but are not included in official population figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics because they are transient.

Mr Fraser said the number of transient workers – the population equivalent of well-established Queensland towns such as Emerald or Dalby or Gympie – account for more than 14 per cent of the BowenBasin’s population.

That sees the region’s population rise from an estimated 69,100 to 79,800.

The release of the report also comes on the heels of an extensive tour of the Bowen Basin and surrounding communities by the Directors General of eight government departments which aimed to provide senior bureaucrats with a true picture of the area’s growth so new infrastructure could be planned and provided.

Mr Fraser said now that a more accurate picture had been painted of the area’s true population, the State Government could plan for future infrastructure for communities servicing the BowenBasin coal fields with greater insight and precision.

“We’ve got them counted now and that’s the very reason the government undertakes surveys such as this – so we can get an accurate picture of the number of people in a particular region and better plan for future growth,” Mr Fraser said.

“This survey plugs a major hole in the BowenBasin’s statistical profile and will help councils, state and federal government agencies, the private sector and community organisations to cater for the region’s rapid growth.”

Member for Fitzroy Jim Pearce said the BowenBasin report documents non-resident workers left off ABS estimates who live in mining accommodation, hotels, motels and caravan parks.

“Most of these workers and contractors are drive-in, drive-out or fly-in, fly-out and simply aren’t included in ABS figures, but they still use local facilities and services,” Mr Pearce said.

“This report provides the hard data needed by government and non-government agencies to inform their planning and decision-making. It not only tells us how many non-resident workers there are throughout the BowenBasin but, even more importantly, where they are.”

The departmental survey conducted in collaboration with local councils covered the following shires:

• Banana
• Bauhinia
• Belyando
• Broadsound
• Bowen
• Duaringa
• Emerald
• Nebo
• Peak Downs

It excluded tourists, short-term visitors and itinerant farm workers.

The most telling figures came from the Nebo Shire where non-resident workers significantly outnumbered local residents - the total population was estimated at 5,140 with non-resident workers accounting for more than 3,130 or 61 per cent.

Belyando Shire had over 2,100 non-resident workers, Broadsound Shire 1,800 and Banana Shire 1,100.

Mr Pearce said although the mining boom was placing a significant strain on local facilities and services, it was good news for the BowenBasin overall.

“Until a few years ago, the population was declining and there were limited employment opportunities.

“Now the local economy is booming, there are plenty of well-paid jobs and people see the opportunities.

“Very few people would want to turn back the clock.”

Mr Fraser said the survey found that most non-resident workers – around 8,700 or more than 80 per cent of the total – lived in single person quarters associated with mining operations and service centres. A further 2,000 were living in other forms of commercial accommodation.

“Daily occupancy rates for hotels, motels and caravan parks was higher than 90 per cent in most shires.

“Figures like that would be the envy of most regions, including major tourist destinations, but were considered quite normal in the BowenBasin.

“Non-resident workers outnumbered casual and short-term visitors living in commercial accommodation by nearly two to one.”

He said the coal mining boom was also impacting on regional centres such as Mackay, Townsville, Rockhampton and Gladstone.

“Many of the miners and contractors working in the BowenBasin spend their days off on the coast.

“Again that’s good for the regional economy, but it does place a significant strain on local facilities and services.”

Mr Fraser said the survey would be repeated next year to ensure population estimates were kept up to date.

The BowenBasin is an area of coal reserves and mining-related communities that extends over approximately 60,000 square kilometres of Central Queensland from Collinsville in the north to Theodore in the south.

A breakdown of resident and non-resident populations by shire is provided in the following table from the report.

Non-Resident worker populations and Full-Time Equivalent populations of LGAs in the Bowen Basin, June 2006.

Sources:

* PIFU Population projections, 2006 edition (High Series): resident population component for June 2006.

** PIFU Survey of Accommodation Providers, June 2006: non-resident worker population component.

Note:

(a)Non-resident workers living in SPQ accommodation located on mining leases or outside of designated localities have been allocated to the nearest population centre, which may be located in a different Shire.

Media Contact: Chris Taylor 3227 8825 or 0419 710 874