Dim future if New Acland rejected
A PRIVATELY funded and designed survey of 196 New Acland Mine workers’ families has revealed the cost to local businesses if the controversial stage three expansion does not proceed.
Miner’s wife Janelle Lotz said the survey, conducted earlier this year, detailed what it would mean in terms of family in the area if the expansion was rejected.
“We felt the situation would be surprising for the Toowoomba community,” she said.
Key findings include that of the 196 respondents, 85 per cent indicated the family’s total income came from the mine, and its closure would force 47 per cent to leave the region.
“This would mean not only an exodus of many workers but also 307 dependent children,” the survey found.
“Schools, both primary and secondary, would feel the impact of this with 55 per cent of respondents reporting they have children at the region’s schools.”
About 90 per cent of the respondents said they would consider buying a new car in the next five years if the mine were to go ahead, and about 60 per cent would invest in property.
“It’s been years that we’ve been lingering so it just creates the uncertainty,” Mrs Lotz said.
She said the survey was developed by spouses and families with administration support offered by mine owners New Hope.
❝ It’s been years that we’ve been lingering so it just creates the uncertainty.
— Janelle Lotz