Temporary Workers Accommodation (Mining Camps) The New Social Blight? A prosperous community we re proud to call home
Communities Fear for FIFO Future http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-27/workers-on-457-visas-retainedas-boggabri-coal-slashesworkforce/4715998 From 3.51
Mining Camps What is a TWA Planning Framework Social Impacts Economic Impacts Micro and Macro Issues Gulgong Community in fear Pressure on infrastructure
FIFO/DIDO Who 100% FIFO Local Employment Pretence By-passing local town and region centres
Mining Camps What are they?? Temporary? Miners live in these villages while they are on roster. The buildings are usually transportable in nature and easily moved. The villages provide accommodation, food, laundry, recreational and entertainment services and facilities Often built outside of a town, not within Home or away? Totally self contained Location
Mining camps in search of a definition.. A standard definition would be good... Determined by JRPP Void of planning control Capability of rural communities to cope
Mining Camps Social impact As defined by the NSW Government Office on Social Policy, social impacts are significant events experienced by people as changes in one or more of the following are experienced: Peoples way of life (how they live, work or play and interact with one another on a day-to-day basis); Their culture (shared beliefs, customs and values); or Their community (its cohesion, stability, character, services and facilities). Consider these potential impacts... Result in a concentration of a large segment of the non resident mine workforce in one place close to an established residential area, Create a significant gender imbalance on the locality with associated adverse social impacts, Impose a significant experience of income inequality on the local area with the associated adverse impacts, What are social impacts Consider these potential impacts Concentration of a mono culture Gender imbalance Income inequity Where are the volunteers?! Social cohesion Where is home?
Negativity Mining camps Social Impacts on the mine workers Health and Building Impacts 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Carrington and Pereira. Social Impact of Mining Survey: Aggregate Results Queensland Communities, Queensland University of Technology, 2011.
Mining Camps Economic Impact FIFO workers, by definition, live somewhere else Their accommodation and usually food and other services are paid by the mines. The worker often does not have to get his wallet out... Long working hours Regional growing pains Resident workers build and buy homes, they buy groceries, buy cars and generally contribute to the local economy Singleton camp estimates by planning consultancy
Mining Camps Social impact Mid-Western Council modelled the impact of hosting a 400 person FIFO workforce compared with those 400 workers being permanent residents. Net loss of between $11.5 million and $29.4 million in Gross Regional Product (GRP) during construction and $15.1 million annually due to reduced worker spending It also results in a loss of up to 242 employment positions during construction, and 260 employment positions annually due to reduced worker spending. Using FIFO workers (the total impact i.e. Initial impact + flow-on impact) results in a net loss for the Mid-Western Region LGA of between $21.7 million and $55.5 million in GRP during construction and $22.5 million annually due to reduced worker spending. It also results in a loss of up to 455 employment positions during the construction phase and up to 322 employment positions annually due to reduced worker spending. In Singleton, use of local and regional labour would boost spending on construction and investment in housing. The regional economy stands to lose up to $311 million in gross regional product and 3,138 full time positions annually by contracting FIFO workers instead of using a permanent resident workforce.* *- Social and Economic impacts of Proposed Temporary Accommodation in Singleton for FIFO workers, SGS Economics and Planning, May 2013.
Mining Camps Tax incentives Costs associated with a FIFO workforce can be written off as a cost of production, GST is not paid on flights and accommodation where the employer pays for these rather than the employee having a higher salary to fund these costs, FIFO workers can claim living away from home allowance and remote tax offset despite the mines being in close proximity to existing communities. House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia Cancer of the Bush or Salvation of the Cities
Mining Camps and infrastructure Big sudden hit on water and sewer capacity A mining camp can be up and running in a 6 month period and have an immediate impact on infrastructure. Impacts on capacity to service other planned development Gulgong: A Community in Fear
Disconnected http://www.abc.net.au/heywire/stori es/2011/12/3388314.htm
Further Reading Report by the House of Representatives Standing Committee of Regional Australia Cancer of the Bush or Salvation of our Cities, February 2013 (Windsor Report). Social Impacts of Mining Survey: Aggregate Results for Queensland Communities, Prof. K. Carrington et al, Queensland University of Technology, June 2011. Social and Economic Impacts of Proposed Temporary accommodation in Singleton for FIF workers, prepared by SGS Economics and Planning, dated May 2013. Mid-Western regional LEP 2012, Clause 6.11. Part 6.2, Mid Western Comprehensive DCP 2013, Temporary workers Accommodation, Mid-Western Regional Council, Planning and Development Department, February 2013.