Development of coal seam gas (CSG) in Queensland has offered opportunities and challenges.  The information on this website tells the story of that development based on historical and recent trends in key indicators.  It is intended to aid decision-making in local and state government, the resource industry, small business, landholders, community organisations, and individual households.  Input from these various sectors was used to prioritise the indicators to track.  Population, income, employment, housing costs, and crime rates.  Seasonal rainfall was also monitored as agricultural seasons can influence social and economic indicaotrs in towns. Petrol prices are included as a broad indicator of cost of living.  

Secondary indicators are used to delve further into issues as they emerge. Insights are drawn together with a specific focus for feature articles.  The 2017 annual report will include a feature article about town and business capability, in CSG communities. Feature articles from previous years are available from the Opportunities and Challenges section.  The focus for the 2016 feature report was on small business and for 2015 it was housing.  

The story of the 'gasfield' region is told through statistics, insights from key stakeholders in each town, and analysis of ‘system dynamics’ during periods of change in towns and regions.  The social and economic outcomes are tracked at the town level.  That is a level of granularity often missing in assessments of long-term outcomes from resource development.  The research methods used are described on the Methods page.  

The UQ Boomtown Toolkit provides access to search and view data charts for communities. To complete your own search view the Compare Towns section of this website. We also provide individual 2017 data and perception town booklets  for town communities. Each booklet provides explanations of the interplay of an array of factors in the town. UQ's town data booklets can be downloaded in PDF format from the Data Updates section.  

Data Updates
- 2017 data and perception booklets for town communities are available from resources section.
- An overview for Isaac, Maranoa and Western Downs regions are now available from data updates menu.

Opportunities & Challenges
In 2017 we asked the question about how CSG development has added to town capability.  

Methods 
- Research methods available now.

For more information about this research contact Dr Katherine Witt email k.witt@uq.edu.au or ph. 07 3346 3442. 

This effort was completed by a team based at the University of Queensland (UQ) with funding from UQ’s Centre for Coal Seam Gas (CCSG). CCSG is supported by grants from the four coal seam gas industry proponents – QGC, Santos, Arrow Energy, and APLNG.  UQ is also a financial partner in CCSG.  Further information is available at https://ccsg.centre.uq.edu.au. The information presented on this website does not represent the opinions of the funders or UQ.  Individuals interviewed for this research are protected by UQ research ethics protocols.