Australia wide, over 40 fly-in/fly-out mining operations and other forms
of long distance commuting now exist, with coverage of about 5000
employees. The substantial majority of these operations are in Western
Australia, with some mines also located in Queensland and the Northern
Territory. In recent years new large-scale mining operations have adopted
the fly-in/fly-out approach and it is important to note that no new mining
towns have been constructed in Australia since the township of Roxby
Downs was built in the late-1980s to service the Olympic Dam mine. An examination of fly-in/fly-out mining operations in Australia has
been undertaken. A detailed survey undertaken in 1990 has been
reviewed and another intensive survey undertaken to establish emerging
trends. Results from both company and individual employees point of
view have been analysed. A section examines the views of professional
employees and the influence of fly-in/fly-out on career development. Bus-in/bus-out coal mining operations are emerging in Queensland's
Bowen Basin. These operations commute their employees into the mine
site for compressed working schedules while the mine employees'
families are domiciled in regional cities such as Mackay. A review of the
issues associated with the development of long distance commute coal
mining operations in Queensland's Bowen Basin is performed and two
case studies examined.