Central Queensland’s FiFo and DiDo population hit a 10-year high last year. That’s what a snapshot of the non-resident population shows.

The figures were gleaned from the last week of June 2023 when the Bowen Basin’s non-resident population was estimated at 22,225, an increase of 1,685 (or 8 per cent) up from June 2022. 

That’s more than any year since the heady days of the mining infrastructure boom of the early naughties.

It was mainly coal-related including mining and project construction. Gas industry operations and developments also stuck their hand up to be counted.

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The Bowen Basin statistical area includes Banana, Central Highlands, Isaac and Whitsunday council areas.

Isaac had the largest non-resident population in the Bowen Basin with 14,495 or 65 per cent of the region’s total. 

This was followed by the Central Highlands at 5140 persons or 23 per cent, Banana 1845 persons or 8 per cent and Whitsunday (Bowen only) with 745 persons or 3 per cent of the non-resident population.

They all recorded year-on-year increases in the same order ranging from more than 1000 in Isaac Regional Council to 55 in Whitsunday (Bowen only).

The Bowen Basin had an estimated full-time- equivalent population of 102,695 in June 2023, comprising 80,470 residents and 22,225 non-resident workers on-shift.

There were 320 new beds provided over the period, taking the total to 29,850.

Most non-residential staff and contractors were housed in worker accommodation villages. Around 13 per cent stayed in hotels/motels and caravan parks.

Vacancy rates in hotels and motels were down over the period.