Eight Queensland resource projects will now be prohibited from employing a fully fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workforce, in order to support local jobs.
Queensland’s independent Coordinator-General made the declaration for the Baralaba North Mine, Barbara Project, Bauxite Hills Mine, Century Zinc Mine, Cook Colliery, Mount Colin Mine, Mungana Mine and Olive Downs Mine.
This is the third update to the Coordinator-General’s published list of resource projects under the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017.
It now applies to 69 large resource projects and 295 nearby regional communities.
State Development Minister said the decision made by the Coordinator-General is great news for every local worker living near these projects.
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“Fifty-nine regional communities will benefit from these declarations, including protections under the anti-discrimination provisions in the Act relating to the future recruitment of workers for the eight new projects,” he said.
A large resource project, according to the act, is one with 100 or more operational workers, while local catchment considers communities within 125 kilometres of a project.
The Coordinator-General has used the discretionary powers to also declare Mount Colin Mine ad Barbara Project as large resource projects under the act.
“Both these projects are likely to have less than 100 workers, so their inclusion will ensure residents of Mount Isa and Cloncurry can benefit from the mines’ operations,” Dick said.
“I want to thank the Office of the Coordinator-General for consulting with regional councils, project owners and relevant unions to assist with these declarations.”
The Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017 came into effect 30 March 2018.