mining in the north west, page-39

Hi stroud, yes indeed, I've always taken the no FIFO to mean that it would be for full time e/ees of CDU.

And no, I don't think that the company is prohibiting FIFO, just that they will not pay for it. As jtaylor says the truck laws are long gone where the company can insist that employees must use company facilities. But there aren't many places from which you can commute to Cloncurry, and FIFO'ing oneself would be expensive. So if the company doesn't offer it, people don't have much choice. Other than to work for CDU and move there, or stay where they have established social and family networks and the kids are settled in schools. And although some might find it difficult to believe, there are strong community ties in the big smoke.

It's certainly a noble thing to try to rejuvenate country Queensland a la "A Town Like Alice", but that was done the other way around - local business brought the town back to life so people wanted to go there. If CuDeco prove that they will be there for thirty years, and are a good employer, people will move to the 'Curry freely.

Until then IMO CDU should do what is necessary to attract the best people for the job of getting the plant up and running regardless of cost and personal dreams. It only applies to four or five people, but without them it could be a long hard road to a fully commissioned Rocklands.