FIFO studies seemingly at odds
NEARLY two-thirds of all fly-in, fly-out miners were happy with their current accommodation arrangements, according to a Queensland Resources Council-backed study.
The study covers similar ground to another study backed by mine workers' union, the CFMEU, and reveals 64% of more than 2200 miners were happy with their accommodation.
Completed earlier this year, the URS analysis also showed 21% of respondents were ready to change their accommodation arrangements.
Of those respondents, some 22% were residential workers looking to change to non-residential accommodation, with 20% wanting to make the opposite change.
Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said the study showed that both FIFO and residential work arrangements were needed to keep the industry going.
"There is no material difference in satisfaction with accommodation between residential and non-residential workers," he said.
"What this says, loud and clear, is that it is important for resources sector companies to be able to offer accommodation options."
The study also found accommodation arrangements were just as important to workers in the industry as salary, career opportunities, employer reputation and work rosters.
Of the residential respondents, 47% lived in their own home, with 45% renting.
Overall, 72% of the residential workers who were renting were getting an accommodation subsidy, 43% of whom were professional staff with 56% worked in operational or trade roles.
Of the non-residential respondents, 60% were accommodated near mine sites in camps and villages, with 73% indicating they owned or were buying a home at their place of permanent residency.
