QCoal claims of miners quitting rather than live in Glenden roundly refuted, council hits back

A mining giant claims workers would rather quit than live in this town where houses are “in disrepair and full of asbestos”. The union and council disagree.

A mining company’s claims that workers would rather quit their jobs than live in a Central Queensland town have been firmly refuted by the union and council, who say there is a waiting list of people hoping to move in.

QCoal, majority owner of the Byerwen mine in the Bowen Basin, has claimed hundreds of its workers would not “accept” being directed by the state to progressively live in Glenden rather than an on-site camp.

And staff would rather quit their jobs than live in a town where the houses are “old, in a state of disrepair and full of asbestos”, managing director Chris Wallin said.

Glenden was set to be wiped off the map before being saved. Picture: Isaac Regional Council.

But Isaac Regional Council, the Mining and Energy Union and the state government have all refuted the claims, pointing out QCoal itself had over years outlined how it would prefer to “house workers in local townships”.

Real estate records revealed QCoal and Moranbah Nominees – a company linked to Mr Wallin – own $4m worth of property at Glenden, including 10 homes and 11ha of land.

Glenden was facing demolition under an agreement with miner Glencore which was obliged to rehabilitate the area once it was done with the nearby mine. A concerted effort by the community and council led to laws being passed last week to save the town.

QCoal is now legally obliged to transition its workers from a temporary on-site camp to Glenden from March 2025, with all workers housed there by March 2029. “Byerwen workers do not want to live in Glenden,” Mr Wallin said.

“Everyone should have the right to choose their place of residence without restrictions.”

Mayor Anne Baker said QCoal’s statement “flies in the face” of what workers had been saying at community meetings.

“From what we have heard on the ground there is a waitlist of workers keen to take advantage of accommodation in Glenden,” she said. “QCoal’s version of ‘choice’ is to have 100 per cent of their workers in a camp out in the scrub.”

Tony Phillips is a founding member and long term resident of Glende. Picture: Adam Head

Mr Wallin said Glenden had no basic services and the sewerage was “not up to scratch” – but Ms Baker offered to give him a tour of the place “any time” to alleviate his fears.

MEU Mackay district vice-president Steve Pierce said workers had indicated they were happy to move.

Documents lodged by QCoal to the government over years show it repeatedly said it would prefer to “house workers in local townships” and “for accommodation to be provided in Glenden”.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart refuted QCoal claims it had not been consulted, saying he had “numerous meetings with all stakeholders”.