After a year of campaigning, QCoal has welcomed the announcement that its Byerwen mine workers’ camp will remain open, reversing the legislation introduced last year that would have seen the camp closed and the workforce forced to relocate to Glenden.
QCoal and its partners, under the Energy Resources Queensland (ERQ) group, campaigned throughout 2024 to save the Byerwen mine and its 800 jobs from closure due to the previous Labor Government’s legislation.
Byerwen is owned 85% by QCoal and 15% by Japanese steel maker JFE.
The former State Labor Government had introduced legislation to force the workers, more than 80 per cent of whom live in regional Queensland, to move from their onsite workers’ camp to the Glencore mining town of Glenden 40 minutes’ drive from the Byerwen mine.
The legislation closing the camp was introduced without consultation, attached to a child protection bill and pushed through State Parliament inside 24 hours with less than 30 minutes Parliamentary debate.
QCoal already houses some workers who chose to live in Glenden in properties it owns.
The current legislation’s first “trigger” for forced movement of Byerwen staff into Glenden was to occur in March 2025.
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last announced on March 20 an extension of the current timeline to December 2025 and the ongoing preservation of the workers’ camp at the Byerwen mine.
QCoal Group Executive James Black said the company had been working with the new State Government on the future of the workers’ camp at the Byerwen mine and welcomed the decision, emphasising its importance for workers.
“We are delighted, on behalf of our workers, that the Minister has now publicly committed to permanently retaining the Byerwen mine workers’ camp for the term of the mining lease. We thank him for his support for mine workers across Queensland.
“With the legislative deadline now delayed, we will continue to work with the State Government on the future of Glenden.
“For us it was always about choice, fairness and equity. Why were our workers singled out for this unfair treatment while other nearby mines were allowed to house their workforces in on site camps? Why was saving Glenden the entire responsibility of QCoal and its 800 Byerwen workers?
“We welcome the announcement that the future of the camp is guaranteed and that our workers and their families will no longer be forced to live in Glenden, and we will continue to work with the Minister to contribute to the future of Glenden along with other mining companies in the area.”
The Minister said the Crisafulli Government is committed to ensuring Glenden has a viable and sustainable future with the investment and planning it needs to thrive
“We’re giving workers, businesses, the mining industry and the community a clear and achievable path forward – which actually considers what Glenden needs to be sustainable into the future.”
