There has been a lot of talk recently about the resources boom and how it is doing great things for regional Queensland. While some towns have benefited greatly from the resources boom, for many others, it has passed them by.
Even a passing glance in Roma will confirm that it is definitely feeling the effects of the Coal Seam Gas boom. But travel just an hour South to Surat and it is a different story.
The Surat area has had an oil and gas industry in the area for many years, yet few of the resource companies have chosen to invest in the Surat township. Travel the road from Roma to Surat of an afternoon and you will pass a convoy of vehicles with red flags and yellow lights returning to the Roma township for the night.
The natural resource is being removed from the area, but no reinvestment in these areas is occurring. Ask any of these resource companies what they are doing for the region and they will talk of the value of the industry to the state economy, they will talk of jobs and if you press them for the local benefits, they will talk of their investment in the airport upgrade. But what benefits are there for towns such as Mitchell, Surat or Yuleba?
Some benefits flow back to these towns through the employment of locals to work in these industries, but that can also create social issues as well. I have seen young blokes on their break with a load of cash in their pocket, sit at the pub and drink until the money is gone and it’s time to go back to work.
Council is in a position of influence with many of these resource companies, and they have an obligation to all in our community to share those benefits. We must ensure that we all benefit from the boom, not just a select few. What will be left behind when all the resources are gone?
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