Alpha gets serious about planning

Krystal Hansen | 5th February 2010

BARCALDINE Regional Council is taking a crash course in town planning as part of a forum to discuss the future of the Galilee Basin.

BRC Mayor Rob Chandler is in Brisbane working with other local council and government representatives to develop planning strategies to help the region cope with the resources boom.

Issues to discuss include water, sewerage, land release, power, and town planning.

“Planning is the big issue, and the releasing of suitable land for the expansion of Alpha,” said Cr Chandler.

“There’s serious planning to do in the next three to four months, and it’ll cost some serious money as well.

“We as a council will be sitting down to do some serious planning over the next three months... not just for Alpha but for all our communities.”

Alpha will be at the forefront of the planning with three possible mines to start operations around the town including Waratah, Kevin’s Corner and Hancock Prospecting.

With all projects being fast-tracked through government channels, the pressure is on BRC to catch up and be ready.

Alpha’s population is expected to grow from 350 to 2000 people following the boom and Cr Chandler said the figure was based on previous booms.

“There are the figures being bandied around by the mining companies and people who’ve done it before,” he said.

“We have to make sure the commercial area fits nicely with the residential area..

“And make sure the industrial area is laid out well.”

It’s not just accessibility and existing infrastructure that will determine the shape of Alpha to come; with the town prone to flooding on the east side, most of the development will happen to the west.

Time limits are also pressing council into action with the Waratah Coal project looking to have its first coal export in 2013, leaving BRC to have all infrastructure in place by 2011 to 2012.

“We have to find the resources to build the hard infrastructure that needs to be built rather quickly,” Cr Chandler said.

Cr Chandler said council would be forming a partnership with state and federal governments and the mining companies for financial and planning support over the next four years.

The meeting in Brisbane was part of a forum established by the State Government, involving all partners in the Galilee Basin.