http://aspirecq.com/?p=74
The Chinese solution might be build a city and then move people to it. However in Central Queensland it’s the reverse, people are moving to it and infrastructure is at best in catch up mode. As highlighted in centres like Mackay, Gladstone, Moranbah and Emerald. “The last thing we want is politicians sticking their bib in”, Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive, Mr Michael Roche reportedly said about the federal government enquiry about FIFO. It appears to me the government haven’t stuck their bib in enough. Arguably we should all be shouting for joy and driving expensive cars with the amount of investment happening and planned for CQ. However we have The Treasurer, Wayne Swan say, “for too many Australians this feels like someone else’s mining boom”. Issues like the division between FIFO and resident workers, costs of accommodation, drugs, prostitution, driver fatigue, foreign workers, long established businesses closing because they can’t attract workers, cleanskins trying to get mine jobs, let alone environmental concerns frequent newspaper headlines.
On a CQ level is it possible to bring all the affected parties together to openly discuss the social issues that are affecting the very soul of our communities. A difficult process and maybe it won’t change a lot, but is doing nothing at the grassroots level hoping for State and/or Federal Governments to do something a better alternative. I believe this is where the Church could take a leadership role. It has representation in nearly all the affected communities in CQ and understands ‘soul’ better than most. Grandstanders aren’t needed; moderators who live and work with all members of a community will arguably get the best results out of such forums. Healing divisions, foster better understanding of how communities and workers are being affected as well determine ways genuine help can be delivered would be the desired outcomes. The signs are obvious; something at a grassroots level needs to be done. The Church is the one organisation I believe has the clout and provides the guidance to conduct simultaneous interconnected forums throughout CQ with a pure purpose of attending to the soul of our communities. Another talk fest maybe, but has there been enough real communication at a grassroots level on the social issues now affecting the communities of CQ.