Why an entire Australian city could be wiped off the map: ‘What’s going to happen to us’
A once thriving mining town could be wiped off the map with 300 homes razed to the ground in the midst of a national housing crisis.
The town of Glenden in central Queensland, 110 km southwest of Mackay, is about to be destroyed under a contractual obligation by Swiss multinational company Glencore as it ends mining operations that have existed for 40 years.
Built in 1982 to house Newlands Mine workers and their families, Glenden was once a thriving town with a population of over 1,300 in 2011.
The population has since dwindled to less than 500, leaving several hundred homes vacant as mining giant Glencore ends mining operations in Newland.
QCoal has started construction at the Byerwen mine 12 miles away, but plans to house its fly-in fly-out staff on site with a 450-bed camp, and does not need the house in Glenden.
The future of 455 Glenden residents is now in limbo as they fight to save their community from demolition.
The coal mining town of Glenden in central Queensland could be demolished 40 years after its construction
Issac Council is leading the fight to save the city and has received statewide support from Weipa in the north of the state to Brisbane in the south.
“This should be an easy transition from one company to another in a mining town,” said Mayor Anne Baker.
‘Infrastructure is within QCoal’s grasp.’
Cr Baker told the Today show, “We’re in the midst of a housing crisis.”
“It’s a reckless preliminary decision. I am just stunned and lost for words. ‘
Cr Baker will continue to lobby the Minister of Resources, Scott Stewart, to give Glenden a lifeline.
The minister told the Courier Mail that he has yet to make a final decision.
Lifelong resident Milissa Phillips-Payne owned the local store for nearly a decade, but was forced to close its doors late last year.
Her daughter’s grave is in the local cemetery
Several hundred houses in Glenden now stand empty as mining giant Glencore ends its coal mining operations in Newland.
Now home to less than 500 residents, Glenden (map pictured) is now fighting for survival
“I grew up here, I raised my family here, I did everything here in this town,” Ms. Phillips-Payne said. The Australian.
“It can be a great place to raise a family — a safe environment and all the bonuses that come with living in a small community.”
Mother of two Felicity Niethe is another long-term resident.
“If anything happens to Glenden, what happens to us?” she said.
‘My husband has a business here, I run the post office and if we don’t have people here, we don’t have a business here. So what now? … it breaks my heart that they don’t bring people to our town.’
Most homes in the town are still owned by Glencore, which is open for transfer to QCoal.
“Glencore indicated that we are happy to consider alternative proposals for Glenden’s community services that are consistent with meeting and funding our legal obligations,” a spokesperson said.
“We believe Glenden needs an ‘anchor tenant’ who is willing to support the town. Glencore would welcome an agreement between QCoal and the Queensland Government that would ensure the continued existence of Glenden’s community.”
The mining community begs QCoal to help save the town and not build a 430-bed camp on site at the mine 20km away
Neighboring communities and towns across Queensland have joined the fight to save Glenden
According to QCoal, the Byerwen mine will create 500 jobs and produce up to 10 million tonnes once fully operational.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cr Baker and QCoal for comment.
Glenden’s amenities, including the local swimming pool (pictured), are at risk