Coal mining to fuel Bowen Basin economy

THE coal mining industry will continue to be a major economic contributor to the Bowen Basin for “years to come”, according to researchers.

CQUniversity regional economic development professor, John Rolfe, has released reports on the social and economic impacts of Australia’s coal industry which suggest the industry will continue to boom by 2014.

Rolfe believes more than 10,000 new jobs will be filtered through the Bowen Basin coal industry in the next six to eight years, which will contribute $1 billion in additional expenditures.

His research found the mining industry contributed 34% to the region’s economy in 2000, compared to 55.8% in 2008.

Rolfe says additional expenditures, such as out-of-town contractors and supplies, will “continue to keep the community alive and spread economic growth”.