Life in the small mining towns scattered across Australia is very different from life in the major cities. In the first episode of this series, we spoke to Muhammad Ahsan Khan, who has lived in the Queensland mining town of Moranbah for the past 11 years.
Ahsan compared life in a major city like Melbourne with living in a remote mining town, while also sharing insights into the FIFO lifestyle, the local community and the challenges of everyday life.
According to Muhammad Ahsan Khan, Moranbah is located about 1,200 kilometres inland from Brisbane and is entirely centred around coal mining. The town has a population of around 8,500 to 9,000, with approximately 80 per cent of residents working in the mines, most of them on a FIFO, or fly-in fly-out, basis.
He said that compared with major cities such as Melbourne, access to healthcare, education and everyday necessities is more limited. Residents often have to travel to the nearby city of Mackay, about 200 kilometres away, particularly for specialised medical care for children or higher education.
However, he explained that the main reason people move to mining towns is the higher pay. Salaries can be up to $100,000 higher than those offered in major cities. In addition, lifestyle rosters can give workers more opportunities to spend time with their families.
Ahsan said that over his 11 years in Moranbah, he has helped build a strong Pakistani community, which now includes around 10 to 11 families. They come together to celebrate Eid, Eid al-Adha and other occasions, while trips to major cities are mostly for medical needs or overseas travel.
