Middlemount miners sleeping in cars

MIDDLEMOUNT has joined other Central Queensland communities such as Moranbah, Dysart and Blackwater in its concern about the expansion of workers camps.

The small community has established a representative group similar to those operating in a number of Bowen Basin towns.

Communities advocate Jim Pearce said Middlemount residents had been talking to him for several months on the issue of community representation.

There are  reports of some miners sleeping in cars.

He said Middlemount had been affected by the employment policies of mining companies and a government that "just doesn't get it" when it comes to the livability of towns supporting local coal mines.

However, some Middlemount miners support fly-in fly-out.

Middlemount miner, Wayne Trieve, who lives in Mackay, said: "Fly-in fly-out is a great idea. It keeps men off the highway and helps them to get home quicker, especially since we have workers from all over, including NSW and Tasmania.

"At the moment there's not enough accommodation for the positions that need to be filled.

"People are ringing up the camp just to see if they will have accommodation when they come back, myself included."

Currently up to 3000 workers commute by road to the town to live in workers camps, despite houses standing vacant.

Middlemount miner Keith Gray said accommodation was costly and miners could pay up to $1000 a week for rent.

"Middlemount is a nice town, with friendly people and it has everything you need; the mines pay good money and I like my job, but I'd rather be elsewhere on my days off," he said.

"At the end of the day it's all about sacrifice."

A public meeting is planned early in 2012.