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A Queensland town capable of homing hundreds of people faces closure amid the housing crisis, as a nearby coal mine winds up operations.
Glenden, about 110km south-west of Mackay, was set up in the 1980s to support the workforce of Glencore’s massive Newlands project.
More than 1300 people called Glenden home at its peak in 2011, according to the census, although the population dwindled to 477 in the most recent survey in 2021. There are about 420 private dwellings, the census found, while the town also has a school, police station, medical centre, post office and shops.
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Glencore paid for the operation of the medical centre, as well as a pub, general store, daycare centre, gym, hairdresser and massage therapist.
Under the Newlands mining lease, the company is required to undertake site rehabilitation work as it closes the mine. The last coal was dug there in February.
The town of Glenden near Mackay is facing closure. Credit: Supplied
As most of the land in Glenden is privately owned by Glencore, dwellings must be demolished to make way for rehabilitation work.
Not all homes are set to be demolished in the immediate term, with some to remain to house workers involved in the closure and rehabilitation work over the next five years.
“Our workforce will be reduced in a planned and phased manner over time,” Glencore said in a statement.
“A number of operations personnel have already been offered redeployment opportunities at other Glencore sites, while we will continue to use a significant number of our own employees and contractors to complete the mine closure works.
“These workers can continue to live in Glenden for the remainder of their employment at Newlands.”
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Residents and the local council are holding out slim hopes another mining company, QCoal, may save the town from closure.
QCoal is building a new mine at Byerwen, about 20km west of Glenden.
However the company has preferred to have its workforce operating out of a campsite adjoining the mine that is able to house about 600 people.
State Resources Minister Scott Stewart has given preliminary approval of the camp, sparking an angry response from Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker.
Glencore’s Newlands coal mine is being closed. Credit: Supplied
“The residents of Glenden feel let down and scared about what this will mean for their future,” she said in a statement in June.
Glencore has also expressed a desire for QCoal to become an “anchor tenant” for the town.
“Glencore would welcome an agreement between QCoal and the Queensland Government which would see the community of Glenden continue,” the company said.
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