Shire of Roebourne Local Planning Strategy

Shire of Roebourne Local Planning StrategyTechnical Report A1: Economic Development StrategyA survey by the Queensland Department of Treasury of short term accommodation providers in theBowen Basin (including the Isaac Region) is likely to give results that are broadly similar to the shortterm accommodation situation in the Shire of Roebourne if a similar survey were conducted there.From the survey, the characteristics of non-resident workers were found to vary, but generalobservations upon their disposition were: Single Persons Quarters (SPQs) are more likely to contain young single people than otherforms of accommodation, but also house unaccompanied non-resident workers whosepartners and dependants live elsewhere. Although the occupants of SPQs arepredominantly male, most larger establishments also cater for female workers. A relativelysmall number of workers live in SPQs as their permanent place of residence; Many motels have a semi-permanent block booking arrangement for companies, cateringlargely to sub-contractors and government agencies. Where permanent housing is in shortsupply, motels may supply medium-term interim accommodation for mining companyemployees and contractors. Motels are the primary providers of short-term accommodationfor visiting executive, managerial and consulting staff; The number of hotel occupants varies according to location and availability of other dwellingtypes. With a few exceptions, hotels are less likely to provide medium-term accommodationfor non-resident workers than motels, caravan parks and SPQs; Of all accommodation types surveyed, caravan parks have the most diverse range ofoccupants, ranging from usual residents to short-term visitors. These parks usually containa mix of working age singles, couples and families with children. Compared with the stateoverall, local area caravan parks generally have lower proportions of usual residents whoare retirees; and Head-leased private housing is sometimes used as interim accommodation for newly arrivedworkers with families, particularly those awaiting permanent housing in the local area.Private housing is also rented by groups of unaccompanied workers, either in the form ofprivate group housing arrangements or as overflow rooming to existing hostels. 8The Scale and Constitution of the FIFO CommunityA literature review indicates that the data on FIFO workers in the Shire of Roebourne is not definitive andis incomplete. The recently released AEC report 9 provides some information, but does not providesufficient detail to make any definitive conclusions. It provides some estimated breakdown on the sizeof the FIFO workforce and their possible location, based on the PDC report, but this is not in the form ordetail to inform the Shire’s particular needs concerning the appropriate level and scale of communityfacilities.There is some data available that can give some insights into the FIFO workforce in the Shire:8Queensland Treasury, Office of Economic and Statistical Research, Bowen Basin population report, 2009, Full-time equivalent (FTE)population estimates, July 20099Fly-In Fly-Out Worker Economic Impact Assessment on Services and Infrastructure Delivered by Local Government in thePilbara Region, AEC Group, June 201218