Social Impact Assessment - McArthur River Mining

eing no longer eligible to receive public housing. Some also discussed that local workers experienced
transport issues travelling to work each day, in that the daily bus currently in operation is designated only
for trainees.
‘Housing, overcrowding is a problem. Do you reckon you can build houses? We have to wait for
another two years to get new houses here… can you build them faster than these other mob (the NT
Government)?’
Taken from Traditional Owner - Yanyuwa Group meeting held on 16 August 2011.
‘A key issue, a main issue, is that people employed at the mine can’t use that income to buy their own
house.'
Taken from Borroloola Clinic meeting held on 28 July 2011.
‘There is a bus…but that’s only for trainees. When they come off that they seem to be on their own.’
Taken from Centrelink / ISA meeting held on 26 August 2011.
Stakeholders and community members further discussed that local workers faced social issues when
having to return home to live in overcrowded houses, including being persuaded to take part in drug and
alcohol abuse, and being ‘humbugged’ for money or work.
‘You know, there’s overcrowding and sometimes problems when local employees come back to town -
maybe give them somewhere (to live) at the mine. You can see that some of them are trying hard to
keep their jobs, but they get humbug from family with the extra money they bring back.’
Taken from Savannah Way meeting held on 19 July 2011.
‘There are people who get humbugged for the extra money.’
Taken from Centrelink / ISA meeting held on 26 July 2011.
Many expressed concern with a trend that young local MRM workers were relocating away from their
local community to Darwin and taking up FIFO roles with MRM, which they felt removed them from their
families and decreased the potential for long-term sustainability of future generations in the area.
‘Then there’s the housing issue, when they get a job at the mine, they lose their house, and there’s
nowhere to rent here, there’s no support for child care, no housing to rent, the incentives... it’s hard.
That’s probably why they go to Darwin.’
‘Land is an issue…land is tied up…it’s a merry go round, those people go away they spend their
money in other places…can this place really get ahead?’
Both quotes taken from Centrelink / ISA meeting held on 26 July 2011.
Stakeholders and the community accepted that MRM was unable to directly undertake work to address
the housing shortage in terms of constructing houses, and appreciated the challenges associated with
land tenure issues currently being experienced in the area. However, community members indicated they
would like to see MRM take a role in lobbying the government for assistance in resolving this issue.
Others suggested MRM and its local employees may benefit from constructing a ‘single workers’ quarters’
in the township, providing a safe, clean and local place to live.
‘When miners come to town, they should have their own little units, and most of them are single.’
Taken from Safe House meeting held on 20 July 2011.
© Rowland 2012 Page 35