Total FIFO workforce bans kick off
THREE Far Northern mine projects have been included in a Queensland Government total fly-in, fly-out workforce ban at eight new developments.
Bauxite Hills mine north of Weipa, Century Zinc northwest of Mt Isa and Mungana Mine west of Chillagoe have all been declared under the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017.
The act prohibits the mining projects from employing a workforce that comprises 100 per cent FIFO employees to ensure nearby regional communities will benefit from employment opportunities.
New Century Resources head of corporate affairs Shane Goodwin said the Century Zinc mine operated with a FIFO workforce of over 80 per cent due to its remote location.
Mr Goodwin said the company hoped the Co-ordinatorGeneral would declare Burketown, Normanton and Karumba to be included as nearby regional communities for Century Zinc.
“It was suggested to the Coordinator-General that, given the size of our project, including a port facility at Karumba, that those townships be incorporated in nearby regional communities,” he said.
“All of the materials we produce are pumped through a 304km pipe from the site to that port.
“It’s not stopping us from recruiting there, but the intent of the act would have encouraged local employment.” The declaration for Century Zinc only listed Doomadgee, located around 100km north of the Century site at Lawn Hill, as a nearby regional community.
Metro Mining spokesman Digby McLeay said the Bauxite Hills project was inaccessible by road, meaning even locally recruited workers still had to fly in.
“We employ over 45 people from the northern peninsula area, which includes the towns that were nominated,” he said.
“All our workforce comes from the Far North and we do everything we can to employ locally.
“We’re very comfortable with the legislation.”
Mungana Mine operator Auctus Resources could not be reached for comment.