Speaking at the QRC Annual Lunch, Pegler said the QRC is now directing attention to the “liveability” of the regional communities that support its members’ operations.

In August, Belyando Mayor Peter Freeleagus told International Longwall News that while the coal industry is an important economic input to the town, the resources boom and the resulting local property prices were creating social ramifications.

“The issue for council is that the prices being charged for the homes are so exorbitant that it’s forcing families to move down to the coast and the husbands to come and live in single man’s camps," he said.

Emerald Mayor Peter Maguire said rental prices in the town were anywhere from $300 to $600 a week, which was a real stretch for the basic wage earner and for many of the townspeople not earning a direct living from the mines.

Pegler said community leaders increasingly pointed the finger at resource sector companies to solve problems such as the lack of affordable housing and water – but playing catch-up with the booming industry should apply to the communities, the companies and government.

“The communities where we want our employees and their families to live should enjoy a level of services and facilities comparable with any other part of the state,” he said.

“I can assure you that the QRC is committed to working with state and local authorities on solutions to the growing pains in these communities.”

Pegler also said it was highly unlikely that mining companies would get back into the business of owning large stocks of housing for their workers.

“While some companies still have housing from another era, most have been sold and many people are now sitting on huge capital gains as a result.”

He said some mining companies are contributing to new housing supply through significant annual investment programs while others are heavily subsidising housing costs for employees whose services may be required onsite at short notice.