Developers target Greenvale for worker accommodation camps

An old nickel mining town northwest of Townsville is booming again on the back of major projects set to inject thousands of thirsty workers and billions of dollars.

The old nickel mining town of Greenvale northwest of Townsville is booming again on the back of major projects set to inject thousands of thirsty workers and billions of dollars.

The area was made famous by Stan Coster’s song Three Rivers Hotel, recorded by Slim Dusty in the 1970s when the long since abandoned mine and rail line to Townsville were built.

Now it is the focus of multiple developers wanting to establish workers’ camps for projects including the Kidston to Mount Fox power line, the Australia Singapore Military Training Initiative and the Upper Burdekin wind farm.

But there are questions as to whether everybody is playing by the rules.

National construction firm UGL, which secured a $150m contract from Powerlink last year to design and build the power line, declined to respond to inquiries by the Bulletin, including on whether it had a council agreement or approval to establish its camp in Greenvale.

“We decline to comment,” a spokeswoman for UGL’s parent company CIMIC said.

Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Frank Beveridge said it was inappropriate for him to comment on development applications currently before the council but did say there was a “clear process that can’t be avoided” for applicants.

An aerial photo of the UGL camp being established at Greenvale.

“The place is a hive of activity. There’s a lot of projects definitely going to happen. It’s booming,” Cr Beveridge said.

“Charters Towers is very happy to be the centre of a lot of development in coming years.”

While one application for a 404-bed accommodation camp in Charters Towers is before the council, Greenvale has applications for two workers’ camps, one by UGL for 80 people and a separate application by another developer for 732 rooms, and three other applications by the owner of the Greenvale caravan park, Mike Moore, which have been approved, for accommodation for up to 199 people and the use of an existing building for a mess hall.

A map showing the route for the Kidston to Mount Fox power line.

Mr Moore said UGL’s camp on the outskirts of the town was up and running.

Photos show demountable buildings have been installed and equipment is being stored.

Mr Moore has complained to the council about “unapproved workers camps, unsightly camps and unsafe traffic movements”.

“We don’t want to close UGL down. We want them to do the same procedures as we have done and play by the rules,” Mr Moore said.

Greenvale Station owner, who also represents the town’s progress association, Peter Bahr said he did not have any problem with UGL’s camp.

“It’s just outside the town. It shouldn’t be a problem for the town,” Mr Bahr said.

Mr Bahr said a lot of projects were occurring and the military training initiative alone would require a facility to house 5000 soldiers.

According a July 6 letter posted on the council’s planning and development website, the council has sought further information from UGL on its camp’s water supply, effluent disposal, flood and stormwater management and to provide a traffic impact study.

A July 25 letter posted on the website shows the state government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency has also sought a traffic impact assessment.

Originally published as Developers target Greenvale for worker accommodation camps