Rolfe comments helped to preview 'Casualties of the Boom' on Four Corners
Published on 29 May, 2012
Governments tend to play catch-up on providing infrastructure and housing for mining towns, in part because the revenue streams from royalties come after mines are developed. What's needed is a coordinated approach to ensure housing is available when it's needed.
That's according to CQUniversity Professor of Regional Development Economics John Rolfe who was interviewed on Radio National Life Matters ahead of this week's ABC TV Four Corners report entitled 'Casualties of the Boom'.
LINK for audio featuring Professor Rolfe's comments on Radio National
Previewing the TV report, Professor Rolfe stressed that miners' choice of living in mining towns or commuting from the coast (Fly In Fly Out or Drive In Drive Out) was influenced by their family life cycle.
However, a significant portion of the mining workforce would choose to live locally in mining towns if housing availability and infrastructure could be addressed.
LINK for a review of ‘Casualties of the Boom' on ABC TV's Four Corners