Key Takeaways
- Leylanie Burke and her family have been living in a motel in Cloncurry, Queensland, for months due to a lack of available rentals in the area.
- The town is experiencing a housing shortage, with many people competing for a limited number of available properties.
- The upcoming Eva Copper Project is expected to bring significant growth to the area, but may exacerbate the housing shortage if new homes are not built.
- Local leaders are calling on the mining company to invest in housing for their employees, rather than relying on fly-in fly-out workers.
- The housing shortage is having a significant impact on the community, with many people struggling to find affordable and available housing.
Introduction to the Housing Shortage
Leylanie Burke and her family moved back to their hometown of Cloncurry, Queensland, a year ago, but they did not expect to be spending their second Christmas living out of a motel. Despite applying for over 20 houses, they have been unable to find a suitable rental property. The town of Cloncurry, which has a population of just over 3,100 people, is experiencing a significant housing shortage. The announcement of the Eva Copper Project last month is expected to bring significant growth to the area, but it may also exacerbate the housing shortage if new homes are not built.
The Impact of the Housing Shortage
The housing shortage in Cloncurry is having a significant impact on the community. Many people, like Leylanie Burke, are struggling to find affordable and available housing. The town’s real estate agent, Janessa Bidgood, says that it has become normal to hear of people living in motels due to the lack of available rentals. She estimates that one motel in the town is 50% full of people who are permanent residents. The housing shortage is also affecting the town’s ability to attract and retain workers, with many people choosing to work on a fly-in fly-out basis rather than relocating to the area.
The Need for New Housing
The need for new housing in Cloncurry is urgent. Janessa Bidgood says that the town needs to build houses quickly to alleviate the housing shortage. She suggests that if a developer were able to build 20 homes as one project, it might alleviate the costs for individuals looking to invest in rental properties. However, building houses in the outback can be costly, and the town needs to find a way to make it more affordable. The upcoming Eva Copper Project is expected to bring significant investment to the area, but it is unclear how much of this investment will be directed towards housing.
The Role of the Mining Company
The mining company, Harmony Gold, has been called upon to invest in housing for their employees. The company has not yet outlined any concrete plans for housing, despite the mayor’s calls for a 1% investment of the project’s total capital value into housing for staff. The company’s Chief Development Officer, Johannes van Heerden, says that they are happy to engage with the mayor on his concerns, but they need to assess all the various elements that impact the livability of the town, including schools, housing, and health. The mayor, Greg Campbell, is calling for the company to invest in housing to ensure that their employees can live locally, rather than relying on fly-in fly-out workers.
The Personal Impact of the Housing Shortage
The housing shortage in Cloncurry is having a significant personal impact on Leylanie Burke and her family. They have been living in a motel for months, and it is taking a toll on their mental health. Leylanie says that it makes her feel like she is working for nothing, and she is determined to stay in Cloncurry despite the challenges. She has a good job, and her children have settled into the local school. She is hoping that something will come up soon, and they will be able to move into a permanent home. The housing shortage in Cloncurry is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive solution. The town needs to find a way to build more houses, and the mining company needs to invest in housing for their employees. Until then, people like Leylanie Burke will continue to struggle to find affordable and available housing.