Regional traffic inspector Lyle Mitchell said the transient mining communities created in and around the Mackay area had created large groups of people with more money to spend on recreational activities.

“Increased money in people’s pockets leads to more spending on leisure activities, which flows through to spending on alcohol and drugs … we have been told that in boom communities you can expect an increase in social problems like alcohol and drug abuse,” Mitchell said.

“Increased economic activity leads to increased road movements, which leads to increased things like drink driving and traffic crashes.

“Throughout the Mackay district there has been an increase in drink-driving offences over the past year, and there has been observed increases in some of the mining towns from Moranbah through to Emerald and Blackwater.”

Looking at the statistics, Mitchell said that in Emerald drink-driving offences increased from 113 in 2005 to 123 in 2006, while Blackwater recorded 56 in 2005 to 75 in 2006. Mackay followed the trend with 669 drink-drive offences in 2005 to 699 last year.

“There was a slight increase in police staff over the year period but certainly it wasn’t that significant to contribute to the pattern of increased drink-driving offences.”

Mitchell also said a spike in drink-driving figures over the Christmas holiday period was largely attributable to increased disposable income in the area.

Police caught 120 drink drivers over the holiday period in Mackay, up 50 from last year.

Mitchell said police would continue to monitor the situation and work with local communities and organisations like the Mackay Road Action Group (RAG).

“We certainly don’t have all the answers … basically what we need is the message to get through to not drink and drive.”