Coppabella Workers Accommodation Camp Social Impact Assessment

Isaac Regional Council, QLD

CRED Consulting was engaged by Isaac Regional Council (Council) to undertake an independent Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for a proposed FIFO (fly-in-fly-out) workers accommodation camp in Coppabella, a small rural community in the Isaac Region, Queensland.

Large-scale resource projects and workforce accommodation developments can generate significant social impacts for local communities, influencing housing, community wellbeing, local identity, safety and access to services. Council required an evidence-based assessment to understand both the positive and negative impacts of the proposed development locally and across the broader regional area.

The SIA informed Council’s assessment and decision-making process, helping ensure the proposal considered the long-term social, economic and community outcomes for Coppabella and surrounding communities.

HOW WE DID IT​

CRED Consulting delivered a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for Isaac Regional Council in line with the Queensland Government Social Impact Assessment Guidelines (2018).

The assessment examined the strategic, social and place context of Coppabella and the broader Isaac Region, including the project’s area of influence, likely social impacts, and opportunities for impact mitigation and community benefit enhancement.

The assessment considered:

  • Community wellbeing – including existing and future population trends, access to facilities and services, physical and mental health outcomes.
  • Housing and accommodation – including housing choice, temporary workforce accommodation and Coppabella’s potential to be a sustainable and resilient town.
  • Character and identity – including impact on locality identity, sense of place and perceptions of the town.
  • Safety and accessibility – including road safety, public safety and movement impacts
  • Workforce and local economy – including employment generation, investor confidence, local spending / procurement.
  • Community cohesion and social connection – including perceptions of social division and the potential ‘us and them’ dynamic often associated with FIFO workforce developments.

OUTCOMES

CRED’s SIA provided Council with a robust, evidence-based assessment of the proposal’s likely social impacts across community wellbeing, housing, safety, social cohesion and the local economy.

The assessment strengthened Council’s ability to make informed planning decisions and negotiate improved outcomes for the local community.  It helped ensure social impacts, risks and opportunities were clearly identified and considered as part of the development assessment process.

The project demonstrates the important role Social Impact Assessments play in helping regional communities manage growth, respond to workforce pressures and achieve more balanced social and economic outcomes.

Services
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