October 2008

The Toowoomba and Darling Downs Housing Network state that the lack of certainty about future mining development in the Surat Basin and the energy boom’s effects on resident communities is one of the major issues facing the region. A lack of information regarding development plans is of concern and hopes that Extrata’s new communications officer will communicate higher level strategic plans that will affect the wider community. 

The branch reports that mining companies are buying hotels with a growing number of forward team employees occupying temporary accommodation from Dalby to Chinchilla.  With housing prices inflating in anticipation of the boom residents formerly affordable accommodation, including Caravan Parks, is being sold or refurbished to be re-let at an inflated rate.

Downstream, Toowoomba is experiencing the first signs of dislocation as marginalised residents priced out of the Western Downs move to the area.  

If, in future, housing will be occupied by fly-in mine staff, the branch believes that incentive bonuses including housing packages may become necessary in order to attract middle-class professionals such as social workers, nurses, and teachers to rural areas.

Regionally, the trickle-down effects of skills shortages are also becoming apparent with trades, such as engineering and small fabrication firms, which lose their apprentices unable to service agricultural and rural industries in what is known as Dutch Disease where local economies are paralysed by a loss of workers to the mines.

While there is an assumption that the energy boom will feed into the local economy through the development of services and housing infrastructure, experience in other boom areas suggests that dual economies develop with the mining economy acting as a parasitic partner siphoning  resources into miner workers’ principle residences in urban centres.

Housing associated with mines in other areas, mostly beds and dongas rather than communities, create their own social alcohol fuelled social dynamics giving rise to concerns about access for social supports.

The Toowoomba region needs to engage in dialogue with the mining sector to ensure that the region derives benefit from the boom such as affordable housing and social equity for populations, such as the Indigenous who should be encouraged to work within the mines yet are disenfranchised by development. 

Toowoomba services cite a good working relationship with their Department of Housing Allocations Officer. Clients with an identified need find the service seamless. However, referrals are increasing, as is the need for advocacy to improve clients’ CIAP rating, because of an undersupply of housing. 

 The YWCA provided accommodation and exit options during its establishment but now that it has reached capacity the Department of Housing should develop more transitional housing options. 

There are no emergency accommodation options available to stabilise pregnant or non-compliant young women who do not want to stay in a shelter as the YWCA, which is not emergency accommodation, also admits men.

 The Ozcare men’s shelter in Dalby has lost funding for support.

 Issues exist with underutilised stock. For example, a charity owned property refurbished for use as a rehab has sat vacant for a number of years. Another CAP property previously used as a youth shelter also sits empty.

 The branch is negotiating a myriad of logistical, political, and financial complexities by investigating using similar unused accommodation at the Dalby Agricultural College to provide an alternative for a broader client base.

The Branch has produced its Housing Area Network Darling Downs (HANDD) terms of reference. Combining the existing North, Central, and Southern Downs groups, the network will include homelessness as a central to its agenda and look to expand its membership to include communities, housing, health, education, justice, city council, and boarding house sectors. The HANDD seeks to minimise the siloing of information across government departments, NGO’s, churches and charities and release knowledge to a united group. 

 Q Shelter met with members of the regional housing council who provided an invaluable rural perspective for its Green Paper submission.  

 A branch delegation met with Federal Minister Ian Macfarlane on Sept 19 in support of the Australia Fair Housing Campaign for an increase in Public and Non-Profit Housing funding.  They also used the opportunity to raise local issues with the minister and highlight the need for improved housing responses across the greater Downs.