The Success of Fly-in Fly-out Australian Mining Operations

Ausualia's mineral resources boom in the two decades up to 1980 saw the csutblislrment of abut 25 new mining towns across the continent. Qnality housing and a high smdard of m u n i t y servicer were incorporated to attract s labour fore for the major mine or mines Leing serviced. Town canstmaim costs were high and were principally born by the private enterprise mine developer. There has been a change in the pattern in tecmt yean and over 20 new mine developers have adopted a fly-in fly-out arrangement rather than consma new towns. Employees are drawn f m 8 home base which is typidy n luge city. msstal cmmunity or established mining town and flown to the mine site for intennive work periods of Bbout two weeks. The change has ofcurred for many reasms. Mining canpnics have been unvdlhg lo soppat the high constmction wsts of towns, short life and smallermining qmatimsdona justify a town, fastjet aircraft areavailable and there is a berter pemived family lifestylo in established (coastal) comm~mities. On che other hand reduced permanat develapment at new mine sites d m n a assia Aususlia's perceived need for decentralization. There have been questions 8s to the social problems which may develop fmm the mif~ciat sepmtion of the "breadwinner " from his family. The paper reviews e 1~-I survey of the altitude of Australian mining mmpmies employeen, pvemments and unions to fly-in f l y a t arrange-ments. me snpponfwthis 8 p p a c h is analysedand cmdusions drswnthat the concept is likely tobe with the Ausvslian mining indusuy for some time in the iunue