News.com late last year reported that the Government approved Galilee Basin Coal which will undoubtedly have a huge impact upon a wide range of communities, not least the Carlisle Coast area of Laguna Quays, Midge Point and Bloomsbury which have housing developments approved or in the making ready for such an impact.
The article explained that this $6.4 billion project, The China First mine, will process a maximum of 40m tonnes of coal a year. The project will involve the building of a 453km rail line to transport coal from the mine to the Abbot Point port, where it will be shipped to export markets over 30 years.
This mine will support 3,500 jobs during construction and 2,325 more when operational. That in effect will demand a great deal of housing, something that I have discussed previously in this column and seen republished.
Mining Sector community housing
The mining industry has been disparately trying to accommodate its work force along with their families. My article of June 2012 was on this very issue, showed housing development for single person quarters meant demolishing family homes in mining communities. One statistic shown was that 80 families had left Moranbah in 2012. That is horrific!
It is no secret and well documented, that both men or women, for their own well-being and person-hood, need their partners and children nearby, even if that means, a few days away at a time, al-be-it only a three hour drive home.
Spouses (partners) and families civilise the community and too many of one (male or female) creates unhealthy and unwelcome situations. Recent history reveals how traumatic it can become.
Now, the Carlisle Coast is seeing significant property housing movement to cater for, in some measure, this Bowen Basin coal development, along with providing upmarket home presentation in a solid community where residents care for other. The region's local on-line newspaper spells out such housing, $330,000 is not a great deal of money today for a three bedroom home a street back from the ocean.
Reasonably priced housing is coming on line now for a three bedroom property, specifically catering for such communities around the nation. The local developers at Midge Point are seeing the mines as an initial draw card for families wanting minimal community living (away from the cities and large regional centres) but within reach of supermarkets and convenience stores.
The Whitsundays airport is 15 minutes away, Proserpine is a 20 minute drive, Cannonvale's large supermarkets another 12 minute drive, whereas south to Mackay is a one hour drive. These drive-time allotments are about the same time it takes to go from Sydney's outer suburbs to Sydney airport or the city's CBD.
Great Barrier Reef dumping plans scrapped
The Sydney Morning Herald meanwhile recently published a story that the plans to use the Great Barrier Reef as a dumping site for 3 million cubic metres of dredged material from the ocean floor will be abandoned by a multinational consortium.
North Queensland Bulk Ports, GVK Hancock and Adani Group will alter plans to expand the Abbot Point coal terminal, a proposal which had already been approved by federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt.So this too will adds further attraction to the Midge Point area.
Vision is part of being 'coastal and affordable'
Midge Point and Laguna Quays has it all in this arena of housing. There is 3G on-line access as well as land line ADSL Internet access as many professional people today can work from their home office. There is a local school, SES, Bush Fire Brigade, a community tavern with published culinary acclaim, various community groups; and there is a good school bus services for high schoolers.
A sea change can mean - "coastal and affordable" - if people have the capacity to vision what may be, or have the type of work that can be activated by the Internet, or willing to make something out of the multiple-hundreds of thousands of dollars they save from not buying in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or the larger regional centres.
The local on-line newspaper "Midge Point – Bloomsbury – News and Mews" hosts these developments.
It is certainly the ideal location for the Well-Being Australia missionary Laguna Quays Respite cottage, enjoying a steady stream of mission people taking their own 'time-out'.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
