Powerhouse mining think tank converges in Isaac

Mayors from vibrant mineral hubs across Australia have converged into Isaac’s mining heartland to share experiences to help better advocate for resource communities.

Isaac Regional Council played host to the three-day annual Australian Mining Cities Alliance in Moranbah, last week.

Mayors and their Council counterparts travelled from Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

Mayor Anne Baker said the Alliance considered and addressed issues and progressed the economic development of mining cities across Australia.

“It gave me great pleasure to welcome our Alliance member councils from Broken Hill City Council, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Mount Isa City Council,” Mayor Baker said.

Mayor Baker said Isaac is an economic powerhouse and the region had plenty to be proud of.

“We produce more than half of Queensland’s saleable coal from our coal mines in the mineral-rich Bowen Basin and in the near future from the Galilee Basin,” Mayor Baker said.

“Mining accounts for approximately 87 per cent of the region’s total Gross Regional Product of $10.8 billion per annum. There are currently 26 active coal mines with further major projects under development, the region is also host to substantial coal seam gas projects, and we are also on track to becoming the renewables capital as well.

“It was a privilege to share with fellow Alliance members how diverse our Isaac really is. We are a region that feeds, powers and builds.”

Australian Mining Cities Alliance acting chair Joyce McCulloch, who is Mayor of Mount Isa City Council, said nation-wide, mining cities and towns continue to face a unique set of challenges and opportunities - to build sustainable communities, and secure economies.

“The opportunity to collaborate with Alliance members once again allowed us to harness our collective knowledge and experiences,” Mayor McCulloch said. “This forum was an exciting platform to learn from each other, and how we can better advocate for our mining regions.” 

The Alliance also paid their respects to miners’ lives that have been lost at Friday night’s Moranbah Miners’ Memorial unveiling and service in Town Square. Delegates then enjoyed a day in the community on Saturday where they attended the Council-sponsored Moranbah Miners’ Memorial Spring Races at Moranbah Race Club’s Treasure Park.

Ends

Image 1: Mount Isa City Council CEO Sharon Ibardolaza, Broken Hill City Council General Manager James Roncon, Broken Hill City Council Mayor Darriea Turley OAM, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Councillor Laurie Ayers, Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker, Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy The Hon. Dr Anthony Lynham, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder CEO John Walker, Mayor of Mount Isa City Council Joyce McCulloch and Isaac Regional Council CEO Gary Stevenson PSM.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Isaac Regional Council PR & Media Officer on 0437 297 839