Resources are being mined from our region. But, it's not iron or coal that is being taken but something equally precious - skilled labour.
The economic boom in the resources sector, combined with an economic lull in our region has been too great to ignore with many workers heading to areas such as Gladstone to find lucrative employment.
Skippers and tradies in particular have been lured out of town, many with young families, but with the construction industry still suffering employment options are limited.
Steve Edmondson, operator of reef tour company Sailaway, expressed concern over the impact of the mining industry on tourism at a recent meeting with Shadow Minister for Tourism, Jann Stuckey.
"We used to be known as where Australia shines, not where Australia mines," he said.
"There's a big attraction for people to disappear from $60,000 to $160,000 whether they're working as engineers, geologists, managers.
"There's a big attraction for people to disappear from $60,000 to $160,000 whether they're working as engineers, geologists, managers.
"The key thing is that tourism is sustainable, mining isn't. The sustainable future is tourism, it regenerates itself whereas mining can only live so long."
The Newsport.com.au
No comments:
Post a Comment