Queensland Government Statistician’s Office Surat Basin population report, 2020 Introduction The resource sector in regional Queensland utilises fly-in/fly-out Figure 1 Surat Basin region and drive-in/drive-out (FIFO/DIDO) workers as a source of labour supply. These non-resident workers live in regional areas while on-shift. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) resident population estimates for these areas do not include non-resident workers. The non-resident population represents the number of FIFO/DIDO workers who are on-shift in the region at a given point in time. This group includes those employed in construction, production, and maintenance at mining and gas industry operations, renewable energy projects and resource-related infrastructure. This report provides non-resident population estimates for the Surat Basin during the last week of June 2020. It also includes full–time equivalent (FTE) population estimates, which aggregate the resident and non-resident populations to provide a more complete indicator of demand for certain services. The Surat Basin – at a glance Estimates within this report are primarily derived from the The Surat Basin (Figure 1) is a major energy province, annual Survey of Accommodation Providers conducted by the based on coal seam gas production, coal mining and Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (QGSO). The electricity generation. The region comprises the local survey includes worker accommodation villages (WAVs), government areas (LGAs) of Maranoa (R), Western hotels, motels and caravan parks. Downs (R) and Toowoomba (R). Estimated population at June 2020: Key findings Non-resident population ...... 3,260 Key findings of this report include: Resident population ...... 217,740 • The Surat Basin had an estimated non-resident population Full–time equivalent population ...... 221,000 of 3,260 persons in June 2020, around 785 persons or 19% lower than in June 2019. • Non–resident population decline in 2019–20 was driven by a reduction in coal seam gas (CSG) activity, including less maintenance, drilling and project construction. The combined effects of low gas prices and the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this decline. • At the LGA level, Western Downs (R) had the largest non-resident population in the Surat Basin in June 2020 (2,055 persons). Maranoa (R) (1,075 persons) and Toowoomba (R) (130 persons) made up the balance. • The non-resident populations of all three LGAs fell in 2019–20. Western Downs (R) recorded the largest decline (–485 persons or –19%), with smaller decreases in Maranoa (R) (–180 persons or –14%) and Toowoomba (R) (–115 persons or –47%). • In June 2020, the majority of non-resident workers in the Surat Basin stayed in WAVs while on-shift, with 1,745 persons (53%) recorded in WAVs in rural areas and a further 970 persons (30%) in WAVs in town. The remainder (545 persons or 17%) stayed in other accommodation types such as hotels/motels and caravan parks. • The fall in the region’s non-resident population in 2019–20 affected all accommodation types. WAVs in rural areas recorded the largest decline in the number of non-resident workers on-shift (–400 persons), followed by other accommodation (–285 persons) and WAVs in town (–95 persons). • The proportion of hotel/motel rooms in the Surat Basin that were vacant and available increased from 38% in June 2019 to 51% in June 2020, due to reduced numbers of both FIFO/DIDO workers and other guests. • Both WAVs and other accommodation providers reported being impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions and containment measures, with hotels/motels and caravan parks reporting more widespread adverse effects.
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Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
Surat Basin update, 2019–20 The Surat Basin (Figure 3) in Southern Queensland is a major energy province and Queensland’s main source of CSG supply. CSG-related activity continues to provide most of the region’s resource-related employment, with three large CSG projects – Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG), Santos Gladstone LNG (GLNG) and Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) – and smaller gas companies engaged in operations and development. Coal mines, power stations and renewable energy projects also contribute to resource industry activity in the region (Table 5). The three major CSG projects continued their operations and drilling activities across the region in 2019–20. APLNG delivered record production in 2019–20, drilling 260 wells and improving field performance and utilisation of processing capacity following the commissioning of new infrastructure (Origin Energy, 2020c). GLNG completed drilling at the 424-well Roma East project, with drilling underway for the next 250-well phase of the Roma development and a strong ramp-up from the field contributing to record production in the first half of 2020 (Santos, 2020a). QCLNG continued work on ‘Project Goog-a-binge’, with more than 175 of 250 wells drilled by July 2020 and other operational activities ongoing (QGC, 2020). A number of infrastructure and gas development projects were completed between June 2019 and June 2020. APLNG’s Eurombah Reedy Creek Interconnect (ERIC) pipeline north-east of Roma was commissioned in July 2019 (Australia Pacific LNG, 2019; Origin Energy, 2020c), and the Talinga Orana Gas Gathering Station (TOGGS) south-west of Chinchilla was completed in 2019–20 and came online in July 2020 (Monadelphous, 2020; Origin Energy, 2020b). Senex Energy announced the completion of its Surat Basin natural gas development project, comprising an 80-well drilling campaign and facilities at Roma North and Project Atlas near Wandoan, in early June 2020 (Senex Energy, 2020a), while the Atlas Gas Pipeline connecting Project Atlas to the Wallumbilla Gas Hub began operations in December 2019 (Jemena, 2019). Work on renewable energy projects in the region advanced in 2019–20. Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Western Downs (R) and Brigalow Solar Farm, Oakey 2 Solar Farm and Yarranlea Solar Farm in Toowoomba (R) were all nearing completion in June 2020, with full generation expected in the second half of 2020 (AEMO, 2020). One new project – Gangarri Solar Farm in Western Downs (R) – was approved and began construction during the year (Queensland Government, 2020c). Since early 2020, the Surat Basin’s gas industry has been responding to the combined effects of low prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, with reduced demand due to COVID-19 exacerbating the global supply glut and placing further downward pressure on prices (DISER, 2020). From late March, the Queensland Government required resource companies to step up their coronavirus protections, to enable essential operations to continue while reducing the risk of transmission to workers and local communities (Queensland Government, 2020b). While FIFO/DIDO travel within the state continued, border controls limited entry to Queensland to critical interstate workers only (Queensland Government, 2020a). At the same time, companies introduced a range of operational and financial measures in response to COVID-19 and lower gas prices, to reduce expenditure while maintaining supply and ensuring safe operations (Origin Energy, 2020a; Royal Dutch Shell plc, 2020; Santos, 2020b; Senex Energy, 2020b). Key measures included restrictions on non-essential travel and deferral of some non-essential works (Arrow Energy, 2020; Origin Energy, 2020a; Origin Energy, 2020b; QGC, 2020; Santos, 2020a; Santos, 2020b; Senex Energy, 2020b). Companies also adapted to market demand by managing production in the June quarter (Origin Energy, 2020c; Santos, 2020c). While CSG activity in the Surat Basin was ongoing in June 2020, there were fewer non-resident workers on-shift in the region, with less drilling, maintenance and project construction in progress than in June 2019. There were also relatively few related infrastructure activities—such as power station maintenance and road works—underway compared with the previous year. See page 8 for further discussion of COVID-19 and accommodation usage in the Surat Basin.
Non-resident population The non-resident population of the Surat Basin was estimated at 3,260 persons at the end of June 2020, around 785 persons or 19% Non-resident population lower than in June 2019 (Table 1). The non-resident population is the number of fly-in/fly-out or drive-in/drive-out (FIFO/DIDO) The majority of the region’s non-resident population was counted in workers who are living in the area of their Western Downs (R) (2,055 persons or 63%). A further one-third workplace at a given point in time, but who have were counted in Maranoa (R) (1,075 persons or 33%), with the their usual place of residence elsewhere. remainder in Toowoomba (R) (130 persons or 4%). Due to shift arrangements, not all members of the The non-resident populations of all three Surat Basin LGAs fell in non-resident workforce are present in the local 2019–20. Western Downs (R) recorded the largest decrease, falling area at one time. For that reason, the non-resident by 485 persons or 19%, while the non-resident population of population refers to the number of non-resident Maranoa (R) fell by 180 persons or 14%. The decline in these two workers on-shift at a given point in time, rather LGAs was driven by a reduction in CSG activity, including less than the total non-resident workforce. maintenance, drilling and project construction.
Surat Basin population report, 2020 2
Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
Toowoomba (R), which has a smaller proportion of workers directly related to the CSG industry, recorded a decline in the non-resident population of 115 persons or 47% in 2019–20. This decrease was largely due to fewer workers engaged in power station maintenance and other works.
Table 1 Non-resident population, Surat Basin LGAs, as at June 2019 2020 Change, 2019 to 2020 LGA — persons — persons % Maranoa (R) 1,260 1,075 –180 –14 Toowoomba (R) 245 130 –115 –47 Western Downs (R) 2,540 2,055 –485 –19 SURAT BASIN TOTAL 4,040 3,260 –785 –19 Figures in tables have been rounded to the nearest five; see Notes at end of report for details. Source: QGSO estimates
As Figure 2 shows, the non-resident population of the Surat Basin grew from 1,855 persons in 2008 to reach a peak of 14,490 persons in 2014, before declining to 5,425 persons in 2015. This steep increase and rapid decline reflect the presence of large, temporary FIFO/DIDO workforces engaged in the construction of major infrastructure for three large CSG projects, and the subsequent transition from the construction to production phase. Since 2016, there have been relatively small annual fluctuations in the Surat Basin’s non-resident population, with the number of non-resident workers on-shift broadly trending downwards. Over this time, the region’s non-resident population has largely comprised the production, maintenance and drilling workforces of the three large CSG projects. With the completion of major infrastructure construction, activity has focused on progressively developing gas field capacity to maintain gas supply to domestic and international markets. In 2018–19, non-resident population growth in the Surat Basin was driven by CSG activity, including construction of additional gas gathering infrastructure, ongoing drilling programs and maintenance activities. Renewable energy project construction, power station maintenance and civil works were also underway in the region. A number of projects under construction were completed in 2019–20, contributing to the decline in the region’s non-resident population. Other CSG activity, such as drilling and maintenance, also declined over this period as companies responded to low gas prices and COVID-19. Compared with June 2019, there were relatively few related infrastructure activities—such as power station maintenance and road works—in progress in June 2020.
Figure 2 Non-resident population, Surat Basin LGAs, as at June
Maranoa (R) Toowoomba (R) Western Downs (R) 16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000 Persons
6,000
4,000
2,000
0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Note: Estimates for 2008 do not include Toowoomba (R). Data for the Surat Basin were not collected in 2009 and estimates are extrapolated from 2008 data. Source: QGSO estimates
Surat Basin population report, 2020 3
Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
Figure 3 Surat Basin local government areas and selected urban centres and localities
Source: QGSO
Surat Basin population report, 2020 4
Queensland Government Statistician’s Office FTE population estimates In June 2020, the Surat Basin had an estimated FTE population of 221,000 persons, comprising 217,740 residents and Full–time equivalent population 3,260 non-resident workers on-shift (Table 2). Non-resident The FTE population measure is the sum of the workers on-shift made up around 1% of the region's FTE resident population (people who live in the area population. permanently) and the non-resident population (i.e. the number of non-resident workers on-shift). At the LGA level, Toowoomba (R) had the region's largest FTE population (170,505 persons), with the non-resident component The FTE population measure provides a more making up less than 1% of the total. Non-resident workers complete estimate of total demand for certain on-shift accounted for 6% of Western Downs (R)’s FTE services and infrastructure in regions with a high population of 36,805 persons, and 8% of Maranoa (R)'s FTE incidence of FIFO/DIDO workers. population of 13,690 persons.
Table 2 FTE population estimates, Surat Basin LGAs and selected UCLs, June 2020 Resident Non-resident FTE population(b) population population LGA Location(a) UCL — persons — Maranoa (R) In town Roma 6,885 105 6,990 Other towns(c) 1,720 30 1,750 Rural areas 4,010 940 4,950 Maranoa (R) total 12,615 1,075 13,690 Toowoomba (R) In town Millmerran 1,370 25 1,395 Toowoomba 105,355 90 105,445 Other towns(c) 39,325 15 39,340 Rural areas 24,325 0 24,325 Toowoomba (R) total 170,375 130 170,505 Western Downs (R) In town Chinchilla 6,410 805 7,215 Dalby 12,275 125 12,405 Miles 1,295 165 1,455 Wandoan 345 120 465 Other towns(c) 2,430 10 2,440 Rural areas 11,995 825 12,820 Western Downs (R) total 34,750 2,055 36,805 SURAT BASIN TOTAL 217,740 3,260 221,000 (a) Refer to Notes at end of report for explanation of ‘in town’ and ‘rural areas’. (b) QGSO unpublished data. (c) UCLs with only one accommodation provider or fewer than 20 non-resident workers are aggregated in ‘Other towns’. Figures in tables have been rounded to the nearest five; see Notes at end of report for details. Source: QGSO estimates Non-resident population by location Just over half (54%) of the Surat Basin’s non-resident population was counted in rural areas in June 2020, although this distribution varied across the three LGAs (Table 2). In Maranoa (R), non-resident workers on-shift were mostly counted in rural areas (940 persons or 88%), while in Western Downs (R) more than half were in town (1,225 persons or 60%). All non-resident workers on-shift in Toowoomba (R) were counted in town. Several urban centres and localities (UCLs) in the Surat Basin housed non-resident workers on-shift in June 2020. The four UCLs with the largest non‑resident populations were in Western Downs (R)—Chinchilla (805 persons), Miles (165 persons), Dalby (125 persons) and Wandoan (120 persons). In Maranoa (R), the UCL with the largest non-resident population was Roma (105 persons). As Figure 4 shows, most non-resident workers in Maranoa (R) have historically stayed in rural areas when on-shift, due to the remote location of most gas industry activity in the LGA. Non-resident population decline in Maranoa (R) in 2019–20 was primarily due to a decrease in CSG activity and, as such, impacted numbers in rural areas (–165 persons) more than those in town (–15 persons).
Surat Basin population report, 2020 5
Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
In Western Downs (R), the proximity of CSG operations and projects to population centres facilitates greater utilisation of in-town accommodation by non-resident workers, with substantial numbers counted in town every year since 2015. In the last three years, the number of non-resident workers staying in town has exceeded the number staying in rural areas, in part due to changes in the geographical location of CSG activity and gas company policies encouraging use of in-town accommodation. Between June 2019 and June 2020, the decline in the number of non-resident workers on-shift in Western Downs (R) was reflected both in town (–210 persons) and in rural areas (–275 persons).
Figure 4 Non-resident population by location(a), Maranoa (R) and Western Downs (R), as at June
Rural areas In town 2,500
2,000
1,500 Persons 1,000
500
0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Maranoa (R) Western Downs (R)
(a) Refer to Notes at end of report for explanation of ‘in town’ and ‘rural areas’. Source: QGSO estimates
Non–resident worker accommodation In June 2020, the majority of non-resident workers in the Surat Basin stayed in WAVs while on-shift, with 1,745 persons (53%) recorded in Worker accommodation villages (WAVs) WAVs in rural areas and 970 persons (30%) in WAVs in town. The WAVs are commonly used to house remainder (545 persons or 17%) stayed in other accommodation non-resident workers on-shift. WAVs typically such as hotels/motels and caravan parks, which are predominantly consist of demountable dwellings arranged in a located in town (Table 3). village, with common dining, laundry and recreational facilities. The decrease in the Surat Basin’s non-resident population in 2019–20 affected all accommodation types. WAVs in rural areas experienced the largest fall (–400 persons), due to reduced CSG activity in Western Downs (R) and Maranoa (R).
Table 3 Non-resident population by accommodation type(a) and location(b), Surat Basin LGAs, as at June Rural In town Rural In town WAVs WAVs Other(a) Total WAVs WAVs Other(a) Total 2020 Change, 2019–20 LGA — persons — Maranoa (R) 940 55 80 1,075 –165 –20 5 –180 Toowoomba (R)(c) 0 0 130 130 0 0 –115 –115 Western Downs (R) 800 910 340 2,055 –235 –75 –170 –485 SURAT BASIN TOTAL 1,745 970 545 3,260 –400 –95 –285 –785 (a) ‘Other’ includes hotels/motels, caravan parks and other accommodation. Refer to Notes at end of report for additional information. (b) Refer to Notes at end of report for explanation of ‘in town’ and ‘rural areas’. (c) There were no WAVs located in Toowoomba (R) in June 2019 or June 2020. Source: QGSO estimates
Surat Basin population report, 2020 6
Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
The non-resident population counted in other accommodation types fell by 285 persons in the year to June 2020. This was largely due to fewer workers in Western Downs (R) and Toowoomba (R) engaged in CSG activity, renewable energy project construction, power station maintenance, and road and rail works. In-town WAVs recorded the smallest non–resident population decline of the accommodation types, falling by only 95 persons over the year. In the Surat Basin, WAVs located in rural areas generally have different characteristics from those located in town. Rural WAVs are usually occupied by a single CSG company and/or their contractors. They include permanent and temporary company-operated camps, and small mobile camps located with drilling rigs. Many of these WAVs—particularly the mobile drilling camps—can change size and location in response to changes in the location and levels of CSG activity. In contrast, in-town WAVs are generally commercially operated businesses in a fixed location. The clientele of in-town WAVs comes from a wider base of companies and industries, and includes renewable energy construction and coal industry workers, as well as CSG production, drilling and maintenance workforces. As Figure 5 shows, the capacity of WAVs in rural areas increased significantly between 2011 and 2014 to accommodate the large, temporary CSG construction workforces in the region. Rural WAV bed capacity peaked at 14,330 beds in 2014, the same year the non-resident population reached its peak (see Figure 2). As the number of non-resident workers on-shift declined following completion of major infrastructure construction, the capacity in rural WAVs also fell, settling at between 4,575 beds and 5,325 beds from 2016 to 2019. Rural WAV bed capacity fell to 3,770 beds in June 2020, due to a reduction in capacity at drilling camps and company-operated WAVs. By comparison, the bed capacity of in-town WAVs in the Surat Basin has been far less changeable over the years. After increasing to 3,060 beds in 2014, the number of beds available at in-town WAVs has remained relatively stable, declining slightly to 2,955 beds in June 2020.
Figure 5 WAV bed capacity by location(a), Surat Basin, as at June
In town Rural areas 18,000
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000 WAV beds WAV
6,000
4,000
2,000
0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
(a) Refer to Notes at end of report for explanation of ‘in town’ and ‘rural areas’. Source: QGSO estimates
Across the Surat Basin, the proportion of hotel/motel rooms that were vacant and available rose from 38% in June 2019 to 51% in June 2020 (Table 4). This increase was driven by reduced demand from both non-resident workers on-shift and other patrons due to COVID-19 restrictions, and occurred despite a decrease in hotel/motel room capacity resulting from the temporary closure of some establishments (see page 8 for further discussion). All three LGAs in the Surat Basin recorded an increase in availability of hotel/motel rooms in 2019–20. Toowoomba (R) saw the largest change, with the proportion of vacant and available rooms growing from 39% in June 2019 to 56% in June 2020. The availability of hotel/motel rooms also increased in Western Downs (R) (from 35% in June 2019 to 44% in June 2020) and Maranoa (R) (from 42% in June 2019 to 50% in June 2020), but remained below the proportion of vacant and available rooms recorded in June 2018.
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Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
Table 4 Vacant and available hotel/motel rooms, Surat Basin LGAs, as at June Occupied by Total non-resident Vacant and hotel/motel workers available(a) Balance(a) rooms(a) Vacant and available hotel/motel rooms 2020 2018 2019 2020 LGA — rooms — — % — Maranoa (R) 50 295 240 585 56 42 50 Toowoomba (R) 95 870 590 1,555 36 39 56 Western Downs (R) 270 475 320 1,065 49 35 44 SURAT BASIN TOTAL 415 1,635 1,155 3,205 44 38 51 (a) Refer to Notes at end of report for explanation of ‘vacant and available’ and ‘balance’. Source: QGSO estimates
COVID-19 and accommodation usage in the Surat Basin Qualitative information gathered from QGSO’s Survey of Accommodation Providers, conducted in June 2020, provides an insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the accommodation sector in the Surat Basin. More than half (61%) of the survey responses in the Surat Basin included qualitative data. Compared with the Bowen Basin (see Bowen Basin population report, 2020 (QGSO, 2020)), accommodation providers across the Surat Basin reported being more negatively affected by COVID-19. Surat Basin WAVs reported mixed results on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some in–town WAV operators reported lower occupancy due to restrictions on non-essential travel and deferral of some works, others commented that occupancy remained stable as essential travel and operations were allowed to continue. In–town WAV operators in some areas commented on the lack of demand from the CSG and other industries, without attributing this to COVID-19. Some operators of WAVs in rural areas reported reconfiguring camps and relocating capacity to different sites in preparation for changes to the location of gas field activity. Across the region, other accommodation providers reported widespread adverse impacts as a result of COVID-19. Hotels/motels and caravan parks in the Surat Basin provide accommodation for a range of visitors, including business travellers, tourists and other guests, in addition to non–resident resource industry workers (QGSO, 2017). Establishments in all three LGAs reported being negatively affected by the loss of both FIFO/DIDO workers and other visitor types due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and containment measures. Many hotel/motel and caravan park operators commented on the downturn in resource industry activity, with some noting lower than usual numbers of CSG and other workers. Others reported being more notably affected by reduced demand from tourists or corporate guests, depending on their usual clientele. Hotel/motel and caravan park operators across the Surat Basin reported being adversely affected by state border closures, with booking cancellations and a downturn in guest numbers noted across all visitor types. Operators across the region also reported negative impacts due to the cancellation of both public and private events, such as festivals and weddings. Establishments in Toowoomba (R) reported significant impacts as a result of these measures. Toowoomba (R) has a different accommodation market from other parts of the Surat Basin, reflecting the role of Toowoomba city as a major regional centre. Many establishments have a large corporate and government clientele, as well as catering for tourists and business travellers attending events, and visitors from regional Queensland and New South Wales in town for business or personal appointments. All these segments were affected by COVID-19. Some hotel/motel and caravan park operators commented that the worst impacts of COVID-19 were felt in April and May, and that demand for accommodation had begun to pick up again as restrictions were lifted. Others reported that business had not improved or remained unpredictable at the time of the survey in June. Across the region, 14 establishments reported closing temporarily during COVID-19 lockdowns, with 11 remaining closed in June 2020. Despite the predominantly negative sentiments expressed by other accommodation providers in the Surat Basin, there were some reports of positive impacts due to COVID-19. Some establishments reported that they had benefitted from an upturn in local tourism, with more Queenslanders holidaying within the state. In particular, hotels/motels and caravan parks in Toowoomba (R) commented on increased numbers of weekend visitors from Brisbane and elsewhere in southeast Queensland. A small number of establishments—mostly in smaller population centres with few accommodation providers— reported that they were busier than the previous year due to particular works in their local area, while impacts on establishments accommodating agricultural workers and permanent residents were reportedly minimal.
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Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
Table 5 Existing resource operations and projects under construction(a), Surat Basin, June 2020 Category Operation / project name Company name LGA CSG APLNG Drilling and Completions APLNG(b) Maranoa (R), Western Downs (R) CSG APLNG Surat Operations and Gas Gathering APLNG Maranoa (R), Western Downs (R) CSG Arrow Energy Surat Operations Arrow Energy Toowoomba (R), Western Downs (R) RI Braemar 2 Power Station Arrow Energy Western Downs (R) RI Braemar Power Station Alinta Energy Western Downs (R) RE Brigalow Solar Farm Impact Investment Group Toowoomba (R) CM Cameby Downs Mine Yancoal Australia Western Downs (R) CM Commodore Mine Millmerran Power Partners Toowoomba (R) RI Condamine Power Station QGC Western Downs (R) RE Coopers Gap Wind Farm AGL Western Downs (R) RI Daandine Power Station Arrow Energy Western Downs (R) RI Darling Downs Power Station Origin Energy Western Downs (R) CSG Denison South (Yellowbank) Denison Gas Maranoa (R) RE Gangarri Solar Farm Shell Australia Western Downs (R) CSG GLNG Drilling and Completions GLNG(c) Maranoa (R), Western Downs (R) CSG GLNG Surat Operations and Gas Gathering GLNG Maranoa (R), Western Downs (R) CSG Kincora Project Armour Energy Maranoa (R) CM Kogan Creek Mine CS Energy Western Downs (R) RI Kogan Creek Power Station CS Energy Western Downs (R) RI Millmerran Power Station InterGen Toowoomba (R) CM New Acland Mine New Hope Group Toowoomba (R) RI Oakey Power Station ERM Power Toowoomba (R) RE Oakey Solar Farm Canadian Solar Toowoomba (R) CSG Project Atlas Senex Energy Western Downs (R) CSG QCLNG Drilling and Completions QCLNG(d) Western Downs (R) CSG QCLNG Surat Operations and Gas Gathering QCLNG Western Downs (R) RI Roma Power Station Origin Energy Maranoa (R) CSG Western Surat Gas Project Senex Energy Maranoa (R) RE Yarranlea Solar Farm Risen Energy Toowoomba (R) CM = coal mine CSG = coal seam / conventional gas RE = renewable energy RI = related infrastructure (a) Includes coal mining operations, CSG operations, other resource industry–related infrastructure, and projects under construction as at June 2020. (b) Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) is a joint venture between Origin Energy, ConocoPhillips and Sinopec. (c) Santos Gladstone LNG (GLNG) is a joint venture between Santos, PETRONAS, Total and KOGAS. (d) Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) is a joint venture between QGC, CNOOC and Tokyo Gas. Source: QGSO 2020
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Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
Notes (R) – Regional Council UCL – Urban Centre/Locality Data in this report are derived from surveys conducted by QGSO in 2020 and other sources. The Survey of Accommodation Providers counted non-resident workers staying in worker accommodation villages (WAVs), hotels/motels, caravan parks and other commercial accommodation on a medium to long-term basis during the last week of June 2020. Short-term and overnight visitors are not regarded as non-resident workers. The Resource Employment Survey collected workforce information from all resource companies with existing operations and projects in the Surat Basin as at June 2020. Non-resident workers are people who fly-in/fly-out or drive-in/drive-out (FIFO/DIDO) to work and live in the area temporarily while rostered on, and who have their usual place of residence elsewhere. This group includes employees, contractors and associated sub-contractors employed in construction, production, and maintenance at mining and gas industry operations, renewable energy projects and resource related infrastructure. Figures in this report refer to the number of non-resident workers on-shift, or present in the area at a given point in time and should not be confused with total non–resident workforce numbers. Non–resident population data presented in this report are a point-in-time measure, based on the best information available at the time of the surveys. Non–resident worker numbers may vary in response to changing production demands, prevailing weather and industrial disputes. At the time of the 2020 surveys, the number of non-resident workers on-shift in the Surat Basin was unaffected by widespread adverse weather events or industrial action. Resident population estimates for 2020 are QGSO estimates. ‘In town’ includes populations counted in defined urban centres and localities (UCLs), as well as non-resident workers housed within 5km of town. ‘Rural areas’ include populations outside of defined UCLs, including non-resident workers more than 5km from town. ‘Other’ accommodation includes hotels, motels, caravan parks and other private rental accommodation. ‘Vacant and available’ refers to hotel/motel rooms that were not occupied by non-resident workers or other guests and were vacant and available on the night of the survey. ‘Balance’ includes hotel/motel rooms occupied by short-term visitors, held for non-resident workers under permanent booking arrangements but not actually occupied on the night of the survey, or otherwise unavailable to prospective guests. Figures in tables have been rounded to the nearest five. As a result of rounding, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. Percentages and other calculations are made prior to rounding of figures and discrepancies might therefore exist between these calculations and those that could be derived from the rounded figures.
References Arrow Energy (2020) Surat Gas Project Community Online Update, June 2020 https://www.arrowenergy.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/32773/SGP-Post-FID-Presentation-General-CommunityWEB.pdf Australia Pacific LNG (2019) Australia Pacific LNG delivers first gas through ERIC pipeline, 4 September 2019 https://www.aplng.com.au/content/dam/aplng/media-release/2019/ERIC%20Media%20Release%20-%202%20Sept%20- %20APLNG%20Website%204%20Sept%202019.pdf Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) (2020) NEM generation information 22 July 2020 https://www.aemo.com.au/energy- systems/electricity/national-electricity-market-nem/nem-forecasting-and-planning/forecasting-and-planning-data/generation-information Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) (2020) Resources and Energy Quarterly – June 2020, Office of the Chief Economist https://publications.industry.gov.au/publications/resourcesandenergyquarterlyjune2020/documents/Resources-and- Energy-Quarterly-June-2020.pdf Jemena (2019) Atlas Gas Pipeline Commences Operations, 10 December 2019 https://jemena.com.au/about/newsroom/media- release/2019/atlas-gas-pipeline-commences-operations Monadelphous (2020) Talinga Orana Gas Gathering Station (TOGGS) https://www.monadelphous.com.au/what-we-do/projects-and- contracts/talinga-orana-gas-gathering-station-(toggs)/ Origin Energy (2020a) Operational and financial update, 6 April 2020 https://www.originenergy.com.au/about/investors-media/media- centre/operational_and_financial_update.html Origin Energy (2020b) Origin Energy 2020 Full Year Results, Year ended 30 June 2020, 20 August 2020 https://www.originenergy.com.au/content/dam/origin/about/investors-media/presentations/200820_FY20_investor_pres_final.pdf Origin Energy (2020c) Origin Energy Quarterly Report June 2020, 31 July 2020 https://www.originenergy.com.au/about/investors- media/reports-and-results/quarterly_report_june_2020.html QGC (2020) Operations Bulletin June 2020 https://campaigns.generatorjsa.com.au/t/ViewEmail/r/8A8E353972F234D92540EF23F30 FEDED/D650FB323C3392620367819F23434F99 QGSO (2017) Population change in Queensland resource regions https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/statistics/theme/population/non- resident-population-queensland-resource-regions/population-change
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QGSO (2020) Bowen Basin population report, 2020 https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/statistics/theme/population/non-resident-population- queensland-resource-regions/bowen-galilee-basins Queensland Government (2020a) Border controls extend to FIFO mine workers, 31 March 2020 https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/89616 Queensland Government (2020b) Coronavirus protections stepped up for miners, communities, 26 March 2020 https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/89597 Queensland Government (2020c) New solar farm to power South West Queensland's gas plants, 7 February 2020 https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/89287 Royal Dutch Shell plc (2020) Shell acts to reinforce business resilience and financial strength, 23 March 2020 https://www.shell.com/media/news-and-media-releases/2020/shell-acts-to-reinforce-business-resilience-and-financial-strength.html Santos (2020a) Santos 2020 half-year results, 20 August 2020 https://www.santos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-Half-Year- Results-Announcement-and-Presentation-1.pdf Santos (2020b) Santos COVID-19 response and business update, 23 March 2020 https://www.santos.com/news/santos-covid-19- response-and-business-update/ Santos (2020c) Second Quarter Activities Report For period ending 30 June 2020, 23 July 2020 https://www.santos.com/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/2020_Second_Quarter_Report-FINAL.pdf Senex Energy (2020a) Senex completes transformational $400 million Surat Basin natural gas development project, 10 June 2020 https://www.senexenergy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2072614.pdf Senex Energy (2020b) Senex COVID-19 response and business update, 27 March 2020 https://www.senexenergy.com.au/wp- content/uploads/2020/03/2047137.pdf
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