• Research project findings
• Participatory Needs and Opportunities
Assessment (PNOA)
• Diagnostic tool
PNOA Rationale
• Identify perceptions of key stakeholders
• Potential barriers and opportunities to Just Transition
• Economy: locally supported, self-sufficient, diverse,
sustainable, inclusive, equitable for the entire community
Engagement Groups
•
Government
•
Agriculture
•
Tourism/Business
•
Local Community
•
Social/Environmental Community Organisations
• Union & media were deemed to be outside the scope of this assessment.
•
Stakeholder letter — initial contact
•
Stakeholder interviews — structured and semistructured interview via email, phone, and inperson
•
Community engagement: Alpaca farm visit —
informal conversation and locals response sheet
•
What are the main economic perceptions?
•
What are the barriers and/or opportunities to an
economic transition?
•
What economic alternatives can be identified to
support a just transition?
Government
Senior Advisor to Hon. Ian Macfarlane
Federal Member for Groom
•
Mining is benefitting Oakey
•
Hard to see Oakey diversifying
•
Locals are happy to live and work with the mines
Government
Barriers
•
Not much prospect for tourism
•
Can’t see agriculture changing up or down
•
“Can’t imagine” what Oakey would diversify into
•
No interest in transition from federal government
Government
Opportunities
•
Strong economic base to transform from…
mining declines
•
Meat works and army base
•
Government has identified coal seam gas as an
alternative to coal mining (next 30–40 years)
if
Queensland Farmers’ Federation
•
Land around Oakey agriculturally productive
•
Only a small overall percentage of land in the area impacted
Barriers
•
Land areas that formed part of the mine site will be
regenerated
•
Soil is unlikely to be suitable for cropping
•
Extended time required to establish post-mining economy
Opportunities
• Development of agricultural networks and infrastructure
• Lightweight perishable crops distributed via Wellcamp
airport
• Soil will be suitable for grazing
Opportunities
•
Alternative use of infrastructure to power new
manufacturing industries
•
Development of alternative energy generation
•
Development of poultry industry
•
Expansion of rural tourism
Queensland Tourism Industry Council
• Out of 25 ‘future waves of growth’ tourism has been
highlighted as one of the ‘Fantastic Five’ areas to watch
over the next 20 years
• Mining is #24 (Deloitte Australia)
Barriers
• FIFO nature of mining increasing leisure tourism costs
• Operators forced to entice back workers lost to the mining
industry
• Significant difference in government investment in tourism
compared to investment in mining
Opportunities
• Local eco-tourism
• On-farm visits
• B&B establishments
• Regional food & beverage enterprises and festivals
Opportunities
• Supports sustainability of the region’s natural resources and
promotes unique cultural assets
• Represents possible employment of Indigenous Australians,
particularly in regional areas
Community Engagement
Field Visit to Double H Alpaca Farm
•
Respondents visitors to Open Day
•
Most respondents 40+, lived in/near Oakey region,
backgrounds in agriculture
Alpaca babies at Double H Alpacas farm, Yalangur
Age
Town
Occupation
Unique
40-60
Yalangur
60+
Rose Nest
Retired /
Feedlots
Quiet area.
40+
Highfields
Carer
60+
Yalangur
50+
Highfields
Retired /
ex-Defence
60+
Yalangur
Farmer
Mining
Transition
Barriers
Opportunities
NEUTRAL —doesn’t identify
barriers to a transition and
believes community would be
better off. Land owners were
originally pushed off and
businesses forced to close.
Took a lot of jobs away that
could be reinstated — feedlots,
piggeries. Original amount of
workers equivalent to current —
should look at the jobs lost as
well.
CONFLICTED — some OPEN
mines are essential but
not when they cause so
many adverse effects.
NONE — the people who
were pushed out of the area
were never dependent on
mining before.
Agriculture.
Natural
beauty of
area be
looked after.
AGAINST — area
doens’t need mining, it
needs farming. Acland
destroyed by mining. Is
about money.
OPEN
NONE — land needs to be
reverted to farming and
agriculture.
Farming and agriculture.
Renewables: wind turbines and
solar. No need for coal.
Retired farmer Good rain in
area. All
land is good
land.
AGAINST — not totally
against mining but
belives it should be
more heavily controlled
and stick to its own
area.
OPEN
LAND RUIN — the mining
hasn’t ruined a lot of the land
for other purposes. People
need water especially.
Support to get small business
going again. Government needs
to look after the people of the
area (Anzac War Memorial —
fighting to keep it).
Quiet area AGAINST — against
OPEN
and friendly further mining in the
lifestyle.
area because it is taking
farming land and you
can’t eat coal.
POLITICAL — area was selfsustaining before mining but
not now. The real issue is
government wanting more
money.
Farming. Going back to crops
and agriculture. Small
businesses to supply the
farmers will provide
employment.
Beautiful
country.
Closely
settled.
WATER — loss of useable
water in the region. All the
people of the area have
moved on.
Renewables — solar and wind.
AGAINST — does not OPEN — open
Alpaca Farmer Handy to
/ Grazer
everywhere. support further mining in to a discussion
the area.
about transition
and believes it
should not be
an issue.
AGAINST
OPEN
• Respondents identified as being against continued mining in
the Oakey region
• A small number conceded that mining was necessary in
general
• All were in favour of discussing the possibility of economic
transition
Barriers to transition…
• Impact of mining on reliable water supply
• Government support needed to re-establish small business
and support community resources
• Lack of government support for any kind of economic
transition process
Opportunities
•
Return to agriculture and related industries, eg.
piggeries and feedlots
•
Small business opportunities connected to agriculture, eg.
rural supply
•
Establishment of alternative energy generation
•
On-farm tourism
Key Environmental Organisation
Aileen Harrison, vice president & spokesperson Oakey Coal
Action Alliance
Barriers
•
Lack of government support
•
Lack of local support
•
Loss of agricultural jobs/infrastructure
Key Environmental Organisation
Barriers
•
Perception that mining is good/needed
•
Position of power held by the mine — financial
contributions to community projects & governments
•
Ongoing air and water pollution; inadequate land
regeneration
Key Environmental Organisation
Opportunities
•
Sustainable high-value agriculture
•
Regional and eco-tourism projects
•
Small business expansion
•
New retail and residential opportunities
•
Renewable energy: solar and wind farms
Summary of PNOA Findings
• Barriers and opportunities to economic transition
• Research a basis from which to build support for communities
through economic transition & diversification
• Support exists for both transition and diversification for
regional economies
• Need to address the perception of mining dependence
• Return to agriculture and related industries, eg. cropping, piggeries,
and feedlots
• Possibility of expansion of meat works and army base
• Development of poultry industry
• Lightweight perishable crops distributed from Wellcamp airport
• Small business opportunities connected to agriculture, eg. rural supply
•
New retail and residential opportunities
•
Alternative use of existing infrastructure to power new manufacturing
industries
•
Tourism that supports sustainability of the region’s natural resources
and promotes cultural assets: eco-tourism, on-farm visits, bed &
breakfast, food & beverage, regional cuisine-based enterprises &
festivals
•
Establishment of alternative, renewable energy generation: wind &
solar farms
•
Government suggestion: coal seam gas development for the next 30–
40 years
•
Facilitation of ongoing community engagement with relevant
state & local government representatives
•
Support for widespread promotion of viable economic
development opportunities for the region — especially in regards
to job creation & re-skilling/up-skilling of locals
•
Encourage input from community & identified stakeholders to a
locally-based action plan
•
Community consultation to develop communications strategies
for identified stakeholders
•
Facilitate engagement activities with youth sectors of the Oakey
region in relation to training and up-skilling for new/alternative
industries
•
Need for community engagement campaigns in relation to reality
of long-term effects of mining