Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/103334
miningreview Fast Fact Financial wellbeing declined in WA in 2012, with the ING Direct Financial Wellbeing Index for WA dropping from 108.3 in the second quarter to 107.9 in the third quarter – below the national average of 109. boom would last longer, it noted the spoils of the boom would be smaller and end sooner than expected, citing overseas economic events and China's flagging interest in Australia. While the resources boom may be luring punters to Queensland instead of WA, some commentators believe it's the lifestyle, not the big bucks traditionally associated with mining, that is drawing Australians to the Sunshine State. The flood of northbound 'immigrants' is a perennial problem for Queensland, where infrastructure is groaning under 1,000 new, permanent arrivals from interstate each week. And they're not heading to the mining regions of the Sunshine State but, rather, to south-east Queensland. Interestingly, the ING Direct Financial Wellbeing Index also found that almost 20 per cent of sandgropers would leave WA because of the high cost of living, which many attribute to the mining boom. In the west, rumours are mounting of mine workers abandoning, in droves, any notion of investing their hardearned cash back into real estate in WA, preferring instead to purchase cheap properties in nearby Bali. A growing number of miners are simply flying in and flying out for their swings on the mines before returning to their adopted home bases in Indonesia, which has comparable sunshine and surf to Australia but offers a far cheaper lifestyle overall. Not everyone agrees that the boom is almost over for the west. In October last year, WA mining magnate Gina Rinehart told the Commonwealth Business Forum in Perth that in the northern areas of WA alone, the workforce could be short by 150,000 people by 2015. While some could simply dismiss her comments as propaganda to support her bid for Australia to import cheap mine labourers, the WA Chamber of Commerce, which predicted the state would need 450,000 mine workers in the next decade, has backed her workforce shortage claims. Simon Winfield, WA senior regional director of Hays Resources & Mining and Hays Oil & Gas, says while the recruitment firm is aware of speculation that the mining boom has reached its peak, it is still experiencing demand for candidates in the resources sector in the west. "We've seen employers become more cautious, but they are still actively hiring in the industry and we still have applicants wanting to come to WA and live here," he adds. "In WA's resources and mining industry there is a high demand for senior mine engineers with specific technical competencies, such as drill and blast, and medium- to short-term mine planning skills. Senior mine geologists with skills in the management of production and technical reporting, such as end-of-month reconciliations, are also much sought after. "We find that people are attracted to the various jobs on offer, which in some cases offer higher salaries than on the east coast. The quality of life comparative to the cost of living is high. "Perth, in particular, has been ranked as one of the most livable places in the world. WA is also known as the lifestyle capital of Australia with its beautiful beaches and open spaces." "Some commentators believe it's the lifestyle, not the big bucks traditionally associated with mining, that is drawing Australians to the Sunshine State." 76