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Other industries 'will not replace all sand mining jobs' on North Stradbroke Island
Saturday, 5 Mar 2016 13:02:00 | Stephanie Smail
The sand mine on Stradbroke Island, July 2012. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin - file photo)
An independent report into the closure of the Sibelco sand mine on North Stradbroke Island has found other industries will not replace all mining jobs in the "short to medium term".
The Palaszczuk Labor Government wants sand mining to wrap up by 2019, which is eight years earlier than the former Newman LNP government had planned.
A Deloitte Access Economics analysis, commissioned by the State Government, found sand mining generated between $60 million and $80 million per year for the local economy and employed 95 island residents.
The report said the transition strategy would create up to 151 jobs across the construction, conservation, tourism and aged care sectors.
But Deloitte conceded "these industries will not replace all mining jobs in the short to medium term".
The report said mine workers could retrain with government assistance and find jobs on the $1.3 billion Toondah Harbour Development planned for Brisbane's bayside.
Local businesses remain concerned
The figures confirmed the fears of local business owners who warned they would join the list of Queensland communities suffering through a post-mining slump.
Pharmacist Maxine Mccullough doubted the long-term economic impact on her business and others had been properly measured.
"You're thinking ghost town," she said.
"You look at other mining communities - I just heard of Emerald where rents were $1,000 a week and now they're $100 a week - you're thinking empty houses."
In a submission to a parliamentary committee, Sibelco said between $70 million and $100 million could be stripped from the economy in the years after the closure.
Opposition environment spokesman Andrew Cripps said that could be devastating to the local community.
"If you're living in Mount Isa, it's like Mount Isa mines shutting down," he said.
"If you're living in the Herbert River district where I'm from, it would be like the sugar industry shutting down."
New jobs in tourism, conservation to bridge the gap: Minister
However Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles said tourism and conservation programs would bridge the gap with the help of a $20 million transition fund.
The LNP and Sibelco together, have run a hysterical campaign to make people think the sky will fall in - the fact is it won't. With this plan we can create the kinds of jobs that will be here forever.
Steven Miles, Queensland Environment Minister
"The LNP and Sibelco together, have run a hysterical campaign to make people think the sky will fall in - the fact is it won't," he said.
"With this plan we can create the kinds of jobs that will be here forever."
The Queensland Government said four new ranger positions would be funded to try to generate sustainable jobs on the island.
New recruit, local Quandamooka man Shaun Fisher, 23, said it was a welcome opportunity.
"Getting that chance to work on your country and look after it is definitely good and something I'd like to see for my kids as well," he said.
The transition plan would not get up without the support of Katter's Australian Party state MPs or independent Queensland MP Billy Gordon, who think the 2019 end date is too soon.
Public forums on the transition will be held at Cleveland and on Stradbroke Island next week.
The parliamentary committee investigating the island's future is due to report by the end of the month.
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