Isaac council knocks back QCoal application for scaled-back workers camp at Byerwen mine

The long-running saga between QCoal and Isaac council over worker accommodation at Byerwen rolls on, with the council voting to reject a rejigged application for a scaled-back workers camp.

Isaac Regional Council, led by mayor Anne Baker (middle), has reject a coal firm’s proposal for a 450-bed mining camp.

QCoal’s ambition to build out a permanent workers camp at its Byerwen coal mine has been dealt another blow.

Isaac Regional Council has voted down its latest proposal for a scaled-back camp near the Bowen Basin site in Central Queensland.

The company lodged an application for a 450-bed camp for FIFO and DIDO workers following the council’s rejection of an earlier 650-bed proposal.

The company took the council to court over that decision, with the Planning and Environment Court ultimately ruling in favour of Isaac council.

The disagreement between the council and QCoal centres on whether the company could reasonably house its workers at nearby Glenden, a small township on Collinsville-Elphinstone Rd about 85km northwest of Nebo.

The council wants QCoal to embed its workers in regional communities and argues a permanent camp elsewhere would drain life away from the town.

The company has in return argued 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 proposed location for the QCoal workers camp near the Byerwen coal mine in Central Queensland. Picture: Contributed

In its latest application, the company states it is pursuing a “multifaceted workforce accommodation strategy” with a mix of options.

“Byerwen’s overall approach to workforce housing and accommodation is to provide workers choice and options, including provision of accommodation in Glenden where practicable,” the document states.

“A permanent works camp will meet the need for a permanent and secure accommodation option, while QCoal continues to deliver other accommodation options in Glenden and supporting workers to live locally.”

An existing temporary camp is in place catering to 346 workers.

The application states without permanent and secure accommodation options, the company will not be able to operate the mine.

Byerwen is expected to produce up to 10Mt tonnes of hard coking coal per annum with a life span of more than 50 years.

At full production the workforce is expected to be between 850 and 900 employees.

On Tuesday, the council cited recent Environment and Planning Court decisions and “potential impact to community sustainability” as key reasons for its unanimous rejection.

QCoal has been contacted for comment.