Glenden residents rage against Resources Minister Scott Stewart approval for Qcoal camp at Byerwen

The residents of a small Queensland town say their home is close to death and a 450-bed mine workers camp will put the final “nail in the coffin”. WATCH THE VIDEO

Milissa Payne has lived in the small mining township of Glenden for more than 40 years and says her community could fall apart completely if a nearby coal mine workers’ camp goes ahead.

“I have watched this town from the very beginning,” she said.

“I’ve seen it grow, I’ve seen it go through the ebbs and flows of the mining sector, the retrenchments, but what’s happening now, it’s just devastating.”

The town has exploded with anger following Resources Minister Scott Stewart’s decision to approve a 450-bed workers’ camp at the QCoal Byerwen mine, which residents say will only further drain life away from a community already in decline.

“When Byerwen was first approved by the state government to be mined, QCoal representatives came to our town and they bought a little piece of land and they gave the town hope,” Ms Payne said.

“They straight out told us they were coming to our community and here we are, five or six years later, they are still not there.”

Ms Payne ran a general store in the town, but it closed down in November last year.

“We were a bustling little community, now we’re a skeleton,” she said.

Glenden’s population in 2021-22 was 477 residents with a median age of 35, according to Isaac Regional Council.

Glenden residents are furious about the preliminary approval for a 450-bed workers' camp at the Byerwen coal mine. Picture: Isaac Regional Council

In 1990, the population was about 1800 and then a recession in the coal industry in the late 90s reduced the population to 1300 by 2001.

While residents support the $1.8bn mine, which is expected to produce up to 10Mt tonnes of hard coking coal per annum over 50 years, they want the workers housed at Glenden rather than on-site.

Isaac council backs them and took QCoal to court over the camp.

“This mine has to earn its social licence and house the majority of workers in the township, especially when Byerwen has a 50-year lifespan,” Isaac Mayor Anne Baker said.

Glenden resident Milissa Payne. Picture: Contributed

The company has argued in return housing its workforce at Glenden was “unreasonable and impracticable” because of the commute time between the mine site and town, which is about 30 minutes one way.

The company has also stated it is pursuing a “multifaceted workforce accommodation strategy” with a mix of options, including some accommodation in Glenden.

The Planning and Environment court sided with the council’s arguments, though the Supreme Court said the court had erred in its reasoning and redirected the matter back for another hearing.

The planning court again ruled in the council’s favour in May this year.

But last week, Mr Stewart gave the company preliminary approval to build the camp and said he had decided on a mining lease application, which is separate from the development application QCoal submitted to the council.

“This has been a long running complex issue that the government has tried to resolve in a number of ways between QCoal and Isaac Regional Council,” he said this week.

“This is a preliminary view and council and QCoal have the opportunity to provide submissions which I will consider prior to making a decision.”

Resources Minister Scott Stewart is deciding whether to grant final approval to the workers’ camp at Byerwen. Picture: Sarah Marshall

‘WHO’S PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES’

Isaac council reacted with fury to the decision.

“The state government will allow 650Mt to be dug out of the ground in Glenden over a 50-year lifespan while a community 20km away falls to its knees,” Deputy Mayor Kelly Vea Vea said.

“The Minister is protecting the resource company but who’s protecting our communities?”

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith has also expressed concern the decision could undercut the authority of local governments across the state.

“Queensland councils have been working constructively with the state government to co-design frameworks that enhance the liveability of regional communities,” she said.

“We need this work to continue as it is critical to maximise benefits for the communities, not just the proponents.

“What’s happened in Glenden could happen anywhere and that is not acceptable.”

The township of Glenden in Central Queensland. Picture: Contributed

One point of complexity is that much of the town’s property is owned by Swiss giant Glencore.

Glencore is a separate entity from QCoal and operates the nearby Newlands mine, which ceased production in February 2023.

Isaac has released a ‘Save Glenden’ video campaign calling on Mr Stewart to reconsider his decision.

“This mine could save our town,” one resident says in the video.

“That’s why our community and our council have been fighting so hard.”