Cloncurry welcomes dispossessed from Eastern Europe

Welsh and Irish, Finns and Filipinos, English and Chinese. Now North-West Queensland wants to take refugees from Ukraine into its fold. Peak industry groups Mount Isa-Townsville Economic Zone (MITEZ) and Townsville Enterprise are combining with Cloncurry Shire to extend an invitation to the those displaced by the Russian invasion of their country to set up home. Ukraine had an industrial and agricultural base which was a profile that suited the region, Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell said. The Guardian is reporting more than 4000 Australian visas have been issued to Ukrainians since the Russian incursion began on February 24, and of those visa holders more than 500 people have travelled to Australia. Related: Bringing the world to Cloncurry The invitation The North-West has its doors open, according to Cr Campbell. “We have supported Townsville Enterprise looking at applying to the government to become a designated area for migration,” he said. Cloncurry township. “We would really love to see them be able to move to our areas, and not only to save and help their families, but help our towns and our economies as well.” The region was a magnet for migrant communities, Cr Campbell said. “We've had people from all around the world coming to Cloncurry, through different phases of time. Like the Afghani cameliers were using their camels to bring copper from the Kajabbi area, back to Cloncurry.“The Chinese people settled in Cloncurry through one of the first gold rushes, and through all of those, everyone's assimilated well with the European-based Australians, and our first Australians, the Aboriginal people. “This is a great area for people to come and settle.” Cloncurry was one of the largest mining areas in the country with a prospective exposure to copper and other critical minerals. Opportunity was the one point of difference Cloncurry and the north west could offer refugee, Cr Campbell said. Ernest Henry Mine based in Cloncurry Shire. “There's really no one thing that you miss out on, and I'd say there's plenty of things that we have better.. “Through COVID, when we've been doing a lot more Zoom meetings, I would say our internet is generally much better and much more reliable than a lot of city suburbs, especially fringe suburbs. “So that's a key part of people's lives these days, and you can get a better service in the bush.” The north west of the state would benefit from the spirit of the Ukrainians, Cr Campbell said.“Yeah, most definitely. And those Eastern European people do seem to be resilient, and be able to settle in some of our more remote parts of the country. “We would really like to be able to be part of the solution. And if we can get some really good family stories out of such a terrible crisis over there, then that's what would really make us happy.“We'll keep working with Townsville Enterprise through that designated area migration scheme, (and) the Department of Immigration. “I daresay for people on Rescue Visas, they'll probably have to go to a facility first, before they can spread out into the community, but we'd love to be able to do that as quickly as possible, and get them working.”

Cloncurry welcomes dispossessed from Eastern Europe

Industry Queensland

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