CHALLENGES that western Queensland communities face are aggravated by the short-term political decisions that cater to the voters in the south east, according to Mount Isa real estate principal Sophie Keily.
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If we can keep these people here longer... that would strengthen and enhance all members of the community."
- Sophie Keily
This includes cuts to government employees in local towns and moving them to larger hubs for the sake of “efficiency”.
The Southern Gulf Natural Resource Management director said cuts to government employees had added to the reduction in population brought about by drought and the mining downturn.
Mining communities such as Mount Isa were faring better than the smaller towns such as Richmond that were more dependent on the cattle industry, Ms Keily said.
Regardless, a decreased population meant less families, as well as a social instability brought about by a transient population.
Ms Keily said that a transient population had its advantages for communities such as Mount Isa.
“(It) creates a wonderful energetic and positive mix. These people bring a wealth of gifts and talents, such as the geologist who plays violin and plays with our young string instrument ensemble and has a partner who works in nursing and teaches cross-fit.”
However, projects and activities that are developed seem to be lost when the organisers leave, Ms Keily noted.
She said that newcomers used to plan to stay in the region between five to 10 years, but this seems to have decreased to about 18 months.
“If we can keep these people here longer...that would strengthen and enhance all members of the community, which in turn grows the state as a whole from the economic benefits,” she said.
Ms Keily has seen several downturns come and go while living in Mount Isa and is expecting this to be among the issues raised at the Grow Qld Forum in Cloncurry later this month.
She still sees a positive future for the north west region because it was still a large mineral province while also supporting a substantial beef industry and even fisheries in the gulf.
“The challenge is to shore up the hard infrastructure such as road and rail, water and power.
“From here the jobs are created such as mining and other industries are able to do business, the communities become vibrant with the extra human and financial resources in place.”
