Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/95079
miningreview central Queensland's Blackwater, believes the region is "well and truly overweight" already. "I would imagine approaches like this would only add to the problem," McNicol is reported as saying. "It's also interesting that on a mine site there is a higher average of overweight people than in general society." Of course, much depends on whether these fast food joints can actually attract workers. Not so long ago, Roma McDonald's was battling a 1,000 per cent staff turnover rate. Yes, 1,000 per cent. Ironically, that workforce was heading to the mines, where attractive rates of pay could more than compete with a minimum wage at a fast food chain. Not surprisingly, sex workers in FAST FACT Queensland boast virtually zero unemployment due to offshoot jobs created by the mining industry. Places such as Roma in south-eastern mining towns are also attracting some resistance. In Western Australia authorities are moving to clamp down on the practice through legislation requiring all sex workers to work only from licensed premises. This will prevent FIFO prostitution as girls will no longer be allowed to operate from motels or, as it's been rumoured in some cases, shipping containers in remote sites. Currently, in Queensland there's a case before the court that could enable motel owners to ban sex workers from doing business in their rooms, effectively stymieing the state's FIFO prostitutes. Back in Roma, the last word on the non-mining-related boom belongs to Golders store owner Alf Golders, whose father opened the clothing, footwear and travel goods store in 1927. It sells everything, from akubras to the Billabong label, despite the seven-hour drive to the nearest beach. Mine workers are lucrative customers at this joint, which has been graced by R.M. Williams himself. A few years ago, Golders predicted Roma businesses were in pole position with the boom on the town's doorstep. "The gas and oil industry is very beneficial, there is no doubt. I'm told it is going to last a long time," he said. "Everyone in town benefits from the drilling process. Anything that enhances the development of the industry overall, the commerce, is good." By all accounts, the people of Roma, and anywhere else there's money to be mined, were not wrong. "Roma McDonald's was battling a 1,000 per cent staff turnover rate. Yes, 1,000 per cent. Ironically, that workforce was heading to the mines." 66