Analysis of changes during 2016 will be presented here in June 2017.  A recap of our 2015 analysis is presented here.  The town data booklets - downloadable via the links shown at the left - are also being updated.  They will be available here in June 2017.  

Changes to Roma’s population

Data shows that Roma’s population has been increasing steadily at around 1% growth per annum. From 2012, town population was higher than projected.  However, in 2015, it appears to be returning to estimated levels. As the number of non-resident workers (NRWs) dropped in 2015, town population was still increasing. Most NRWs were located in camps outside the town. In town, people reported noticing the turnover in population - as people came and left - rather than a large net increase.

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Housing in Roma

The turnover in population can be attributed to changes in housing costs. Established residents are reported to have sold homes at inflated prices and moved away.  They are said to have sometimes picked up fly-in/fly-out employment opportunities in the gas industry. Others on lower incomes are said to have moved away as rents increased. People moved into Roma for work, including a proportion of foreign workers sponsored by local employers.

Demand for housing in Roma was heightened by major flooding events in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The 2012 record-breaking flood damaged over 400 homes. Around 200 were left uninhabitable. The flood reconstruction period involved numerous contractor crews for road repair and insurance company building.  They came from out of town and coincided with an influx at the peak of the CSG construction period. They generated an acute demand for limited housing and accommodation (as well as limited supplies and services), which pushed prices up.

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Business and skills in Roma

Foreign workers were brought in to fill labour shortages, mostly in the hospitality and agricultural industries. Local employers said that they found it difficult to retain employees. Competition for labour forced the average wage and salary up. It is not clear how much of the additional income was spent locally or not. Costs of living generally are reported to have increased. There was a strong ‘shop local ‘campaign coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce to encourage local spending.

Local businesses appear to have benefitted from CSG development. The total business income for the Roma postcode more than tripled from the 2010-11 to the 2012-2013 financial year. The number of businesses filing tax returns in this period also tripled. However, in 2015, some businesses were said to be struggling as the procurement needs for the construction period ended.

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Safety in Roma

Crime rates in Roma are slightly higher than for the whole of Queensland. Good order and drugs offences increased from 2011 to 2014, which caused some local concern, but the figures have since decreased. Strategies put in place by gas companies, local police and businesses to curb bad behaviour were thought to be effective, we were told in interviews. Traffic offences fluctuated, and figures are said to reflect police effort.

See the Roma booklet for more information

The statistical data and more detailed perspectives from the Roma interviewees are available in the Roma booklet. The booklet includes data up to 2015, and interpretations from UQ researchers.

We would like to thank members of the Roma community for their cooperation, and the gift of their time. We hope that we have done justice to their contributions to this investigation.

The UQ ‘Cumulative Impacts’ Research Team.