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July 8
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Posted by Steve Smyth

Mining families need somewhere to live

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Queensland’s Oaky Creek mine complex looks set to expand next year, with a proposal from the company to reopen the open cut mine that shut in 2006.

Under Xstrata’s plan, the open cut mine would be operational from mid next year. This is good news for jobs and we hope it’s good news for our community.

While the number of potential new jobs is not yet clear – it could be 100 or more – we’d like to see a commitment from Xstrata to develop adequate family housing for new workers.

In Tieri, the town that houses Oaky Creek workers, as well as other central Queensland mining towns, there have been concerns for some time about a lack of family housing and the priority given to building single men’s quarters.

We have had cases of Queensland mining families living in caravans due to lack of housing available, while more and more single men’s quarters are built.

The more families that come to Tieri, the stronger the community and the more services are available to everyone. We would hate to see employees of the reopened open cut mine offered jobs, but not able to find housing for their family.

Along with their proposal to reopen Oaky Creek open cut, Xstrata must make a commitment to developing family housing to allow workers with families to build a life in Tieri.


 

3 comments on "Mining families need somewhere to live "

Haz. said on Sat, 10/07/2010 - 08:03:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/breaking-news/xstrata-fined-ov... THEY DONT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING AT ALL. Xstrata fined over Aboriginal site From: AAP July 09, 2010 7:29PM Increase XSTRATA Mount Isa Mines has been fined $80,000 after pleading guilty in a Brisbane Magistrates Court for damaging an Aboriginal cultural heritage site. The court was told Xstrata breached its duty of care when workers bulldozed cultural heritage objects, including flint spears and knives, while upgrading a road in the northwest Queensland city of Mount Isa in September 2008. Xstrata pleaded guilty to one charge under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act. In July 2008, a survey carried out by the company and the Kalkadoon people found that the ridgeline contained artefacts of importance to the Kalkadoon People. The Department of Environment and Resource Management's litigation director, Reuben Carlos, said Xstrata Mount Isa Mines had failed to take reasonable measures to ensure that Aboriginal cultural heritage was not harmed. "The company should have had better internal procedures in place to protect the site," Mr Carlos said. A conviction was not recorded.
westy2cfmeu said on Thu, 08/07/2010 - 22:15:
The only commitment xstrata will make is to take more & give less.They don't care about families or communities unless there is a dollar involved.And don't think the more families the more services (didn't xstrata state they run the town not the council)so don't expect too much.At Westy they keep telling us location,location so we shouldn't get as much money as others.Is that because they can't buy up all the shops in our area as they have done in Tieri so our money goes to other buisnesses not back into xstrata's money grubbing coffer's.
Haz. said on Thu, 08/07/2010 - 16:42:
Speaking from years of experience in the coal mining industry, now retired, and whilst working at a particular mine I was the lodge secretary, then lodge president, then lodge president and secretary and at the same time, check inspector a family man, I learnt how mine management thinks to a degree. Single men are hard strong workers who can and do many things older men are wary of. Young men obey, family men think first then follow orders. Family men usually think before jumping in. In my years in the industry I have witnessed more single men who have perished accidently than married men, nuff-said. An Xstrata manager once said to me, "You know Haz, these young single guys seem to have lots more sickies than you older guys, why is that?" I replied, "If you cant work that one out for yourself, you shouldn't be managing this mine!" Single guys usually turn up three maybe four out of seven shifts, then with a pocket full of money their off to Sydney for a good time. I dont blame them! Older married men, family to support, work seven out of seven shifts, unless genuinly ill? Build more married quarters, but what do I know??? Old timer now, Haz.