I support the Pilbara Regional Council in their call for to the State Government to implement stricter planning regulations on fly in, flyout workers camps. There has been a clear spike in recent months in suicides in camps scattered throughout the Pilbara and in my personal view, the State needs to act. My personal belief is that during the FIFO camp approval process - a social impact statement, or similar, should be sought from the proponents, describing the positive and negative impacts of their camps, during both construction and operational phases and mitigating factors on activities considered high risk, which could potentially impact on the quality of life of construction and operational staff, as well as nearby communities. We are not calling for an end to FIFO camps, but rather seeking an integration of these camps into local towns whereever possible. Cr Peter Foster. Council calls for FIFO action. By Ben Leahy, North West Telegraph. The Pilbara Regional Council hopes to meet mental health group beyondblue later this year as it seeks to pressure the State Government into implementing stricter planning regulations for fly-in, flyout workers’ camps. PRC chief executive Tony Friday said State Government authorities were not treating the string of recent suicides among FIFO workers seriously enough. “The Pilbara Regional Council will be meeting with the CEO of beyondblue in Canberra later on this year, Jeff Kennett, seeking to have some quite significant Federal pressure exerted on our State Government,” Mr Friday said. There is going to come a time 20 years down the track when our State Government is going to look back on these practices and hang their heads in shame.” The PRC’s comments follow the State Government’s decision earlier this year to allow oil and gas giant Chevron to house the 300-odd operational workers for its Wheatstone LNG plant about 20km out of Onslow, rather than in the town itself. The decision came in contrast to numerous Federal Government reports on FIFO workers, including September’s Pivot North Parliamentary inquiry into boosting Northern Australia’s economy. The inquiry recommended temporary workers’ camps be located no closer than 60km to an existing settlement. Federal MP and Pivot North deputy chair Alannah MacTiernan last week met Pilbara local government leaders and said they were not calling for an end to FIFO camps, but instead were insisting workers be integrated into local towns when possible. “When fly-in, fly-out workers are integrated into towns, these workers become community volunteers, they participate in sporting activities and they contribute to the economy of the town,” she said. “It’s a win/win situation — the community benefits, the workers benefit, the town benefits.” Mr Friday said local governments had been ignored on this issue for too long. “At some point in time … someone has to act,” he said. “There is a preservation of life issue (at stake).” If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 12:38:47 +0000
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