Bowen Basin FIFO/DIDO numbers increase

The Bowen Basin is busy. Busier to be closer to the point, with local industry requiring more labour to support its activities. The latest Bowen Basin population report has the increase of FiFo and DiDo workers at more than 8 per cent, or 1585 workers. It’s the highest non-resident population since the resources infrastructure boom of 2010 to 2013, according to the report. Main images: Mackay airport refurbishment The annual report contains non–resident population and accommodation data for the Bowen Basin, taken from data collected by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. The focus is on quantifying the number of fly‑in/fly‑out and drive‑in/drive‑out (FIFO/DIDO) workers staying in the region and their use of commercial accommodation. The report provides estimates of the number of non‑resident workers on‑shift in local government areas (LGAs) and selected localities in the Bowen Basin as at June 2022. Construction, production and maintenance all up Non–resident population growth in 2021–22 was due to a combination of factors the report said. “… With construction and production activity at new and reopened mines, production and maintenance at existing mines, and gas and renewable energy project construction more than making up for a decline in large-scale project construction,” it said. Broken down into local government areas, Isaac had the largest non-resident population in the Bowen Basin in June 2022 of 13,405 workers, or 65 per cent of the total. The remaining non-resident population was in Central Highlands (4,775 persons or 23 per cent), Banana (1,670 persons or 8 per cent) and Whitsunday (Bowen only) (690 persons or 3 per cent of the total). Only Whitsundays declined in reporting a non-resident population increase during the period. Isaac was up 11 per cent or 1,325 workers, Central Highlands up 16 per cent or around 670 workers and Banana Shire up 21 per cent or 295 workers. It's estimated, at the reporting period in June 2022, the Bowen Basin had an estimated Full Time Equivalent population of 100,120 persons, comprising 79,580 residents and 20,540 non-resident workers on-shift. Non-resident workers on-shift made up 21 percent of the FTE population. Most of the FIFO and DIDO population was housed in worker accommodation villages. It amounted to around 18.150 workers, or 88 per cent. The balance stayed in other accommodation like hotels and caravan parks. The proportion of vacant and available hotel/motel rooms in the region decreased from 40 per cent in June 2021 to 29 per cent in June 2022, driven by increased demand from the resources sector. Estimates in this report are calculated mainly from the annual Survey of Accommodation Providers conducted by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (QGSO). The survey includes worker accommodation villages (WAVs), hotels, motels, and caravan parks.

Bowen Basin FIFO/DIDO numbers increase

Industry Queensland

Related News

Quick fire – industry news briefs

Fraser Institute rankings highlight global competition

Pybar tapped for new mine job as AIC gets ducks in a row

Get access to breaking mining news, now.