Bush summit: Regional mayor says saving Glenden shows ‘mining communities matter’

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has committed to new legislation to save Glenden after an emotional campaign to keep the tiny mining town.

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Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker says the decision to save the tiny town of Glenden shows “the future of Queensland mining communities matter”.

An emotional Cr Baker spoke of her “tears of relief” when the Premier phoned to tell her Glenden would no longer be bulldozed, with new legislation introduced to prevent it from happening.

The announcement was made at the Courier-Mail’s inaugural Queensland Bush Summit in Rockhampton, after it was revealed Swiss multinational Glencore had a contractual obligation to remove the town as it winds up mining operations which have existed for 40 years.

“I have cried tears of relief during this morning’s call from the Premier advising of legislative change to Save Glenden,” Cr Baker said.

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker.

“This renews our faith in governments’ will to act and listen to voice of mining communities.

“We are heartened by the speed at which this legislative change will occur.”

Cr Baker thanked the people of Glenden, her hard working council team and the Local Government Association of Queensland.

“(And) every Queensland Mayor and community that backed Glenden in a fight to save regional Queensland communities,” she said.

“This is an acknowledgment by government that the future of Queensland mining communities matter and that the current system is flawed and needs to change.

“This critical step forward has to be a win for everyone involved, but as always the devil will be in the detail, and we look forward to working with government to get this right.

Watch this space.”

The state government will need to amend laws to make it so, and it is understood this will happen in parliament next week.

But there isn’t much detail yet and Cr Baker said this was the “real critical piece”.

“So we will be watching and wanting to fully understand what the detail is,” she said.

“Today’s message is about the fact that we have got renewed confidence in the government that they’ve acted, and they have listened to the voice of mining communities.”

Cr Baker said her “phone is exploding” after the news Glenden would be saved.

“I’ve reached out to as many as I could once the announcement was public,” she said.

“But I’ve still got a lot of people to talk to today. Today is about celebrating or getting some joy from all the hard work.”

Cr Baker’s comments come as the town of Glenden rejoiced upon hearing the news.

Melissa Payne, who moved to Glenden with her family in 1982 and owned the general store before it was forced to close its doors, said after six long years, the town’s voice had finally been heard.

The township of Glenden in Central Queensland. Picture: Contributed

“This is the most fantastic news that could come out today,” she said.

“I’m absolutely blown away and ecstatic. Our town has a future, we always knew it had more to give and people wanted it (to stay) as much as we did.

“A lot of communities have rallied behind us, it’s been very heartwarming.

“Our voice has finally been heard.”

Ms Payne is now eagerly awaiting for more information on the specific legislation changes announced by the premier.

“Now we’ve got to make sure the premier sticks to it and get some action happening,” she said.

“What’s the next step, what’s going to be in the legislation.”

The good news travelled to Mackay where Glenden local Tony Phillips was working on Friday.

He said it was the best news the town had received in “a very long time” and he would be celebrating the announcement over the weekend.

Glenden was established 40 years ago but was due to be bulldozed to meet the obligations of a mining contract. Picture: Adam Head

“We’ve had only bad news for the last five, six years, so this is really good,” he said.

“Everybody would be stoked.”

Ms Palaszczuk said Cr Baker had been a strong advocate for the town.

“It really touched everyone I think,’’ Ms Palaszczuk said of the fight to save Glenden.

The town two hours’ drive west of Mackay was developed by Mount Isa Mines in the early 1980s to house workers from nearby Newlands Mine and thrived for three decades.

But, with the coal running out at Newlands, present owner Glencore was contractually obliged to level the town as part of the mine rehabilitation process.

Ms Palaszczuk said legislation was already being prepared to ensure the town would escape destruction and would be presented to State Parliament in the next sitting.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Isacc Regional Council and the State Government would have to work closely together to ensure the future of the town.

Residents of Glenden have been vocal about saving the town. Picture: Adam Head

“We are prepared to do that because we see a bright future for the town,’’ Ms Palaszczuk said.

In a statement, Glencore said they would welcome an agreement between QCoal and the Queensland Government which would see the community of Glenden continue.

“We believe that Glenden requires an “anchor tenant” who is willing to support the town,” the spokesman said.