The annual meeting of the Local Government Association of Queensland will discuss the merits of FIFO at a time when the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance is pushing for a 100% FIFO workforce for its proposed Caval Ridge mine, against the wishes of the local Isaac Regional Council.

“The suggestion of a 100 per cent FIFO workforce at the Caval Ridge mine will not facilitate further development of our community and is a position council strongly rejects,” Mayor Cedric Marshall told ILN.

“Council is committed to creating family-friendly environments. We would like Moranbah to grow and to do this we would like to encourage families to live here.

“We have recently witnessed the impact of land sales in the area. People want to live in Moranbah and council believes they should be given this choice.

“A 100 per cent FIFO workforce does not provide choice. We can only imagine the impact these arrangements will have on our society with parents being further separated from their children.

“Council is loathe to support a social policy that continues to impact on families and the general health and well being of any community.

“Further, if the liveability and the sustainability of a community are to remain high then the delivery of quality education, health management, and community services is integral.

“By growing our community we will be able to retain these services and possibly improve them in the future.

“A 100 per cent workforce will also impact on our economy. As we are based in a rural location, our residents rely on the small businesses and services in the community.

“It’s only through the injection of local money back into local businesses that these support services can be maintained or developed.

“Council believes that a 100 per cent FIFO workforce will take their local money and spend it outside the region.

“Council recognises it will have to manage, collaboratively with industry and community, some of the negative impacts of the resources industry; it would also like to see some of the benefits shared.

“Council is committed to the future success of Moranbah, and all of its communities, as family-friendly, service-rich communities. It is for this reason council has and will continue to highlight its concerns around suggestions of 100 per cent FIFO workforces.”

Councillor Marshall, who believes FIFO should be held at 70%, said the health concerns associated with a FIFO workforce, especially with workers moving back and forth, may need to be considered if the town was to maintain the same standard of living in its communities.

A spokersperson for BMA said: "The application to increase the FIFO/DIDO workforce to 100 per cent is informed by operational requirements for the mine and research on workforce conditions. During the study process the company met with the Department of Planning and the Coordinator-General to discuss key considerations. BMA will continue to conduct an open and transparent engagement process with stakeholders on the Caval Ridge Project."

Port Hedland Council Deputy Mayor Arnold Carter in Western Australia has encouraged Isaac Regional Council not to accept 100% FIFO.

Councillor Carter said the economy there has been devastated since the practice became prominent about four years ago.

"Do everything in your possible capacity and capability to dis-encourage it," he told ABC.

"Encourage the mining companies to build houses, to have their families there.”