A petition to oppose a 100% ‘fly-in, fly-out’ mine in the Central Highlands, Queensland has been tabled by Ted Malone the member for Mirani.
The Petition which has thousands of signatures is Mr Marlone’s way of ensuring that the mining town gets a stable population to allow businesses and services to prosper.
He mentioned in Parliament that schools, police, emergency services and council rely on stable population base to remain stable. For instance secondary schools need a critical mass of students to provide a comprehensive curriculum.
He added that even the business organizations are in the same boat. That to be profitable a business outlet needs a critical mass of residents and it that is not met they will go out of business. Then they will also be forced to pack up and leave the community.
With 4,271 signatures opposing the ‘fly-in, fly-out’ workforce the state government is under pressure to reject the proposal of mining giant BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), Australia's largest coal miner and exporter. Of these 3,317 signatures were valid and 954 were non conforming but there is no doubting the significant public angst against the proposal to have a 100% ‘fly-in, fly-out’ workforce.
BMA wanted to take the workforce of its Caval Ridge Mine project from 70 % fly in fly out workers to 100%. The proposal for the mine near Moranbah would be opposed strongly by the local communities even as it plans to make the application in the next month or two.