2016 Annual Report
Dalby details
Changes to Dalby’s population
Dalby’s population has historically been stable at around 10,000 persons. Since 2008, the population has increased steadily. This rise is seen as a positive change.
In 2016, the resident population of Dalby appears to be stabilising at around 11,700 people. The number of non-resident workers is at its lowest level since
They noted that the population increase led to more cultural diversity in Dalby, and more variety in local retail. However, interviewees also noticed an increase to the transience of people in Dalby. This change was referred to as ‘destabilising’.
Employment in Dalby
Dalby has a diverse employment base and is the regional training centre. In 2016, unemployment in Dalby was slightly lower than the previous year, after increasing from a very low point during peak CSG construction 2012-13. The unemployment rate is still below the rate for Queensland.
The CSG construction phase created many new jobs, which interviewees noted had flow-on effects for the local skills base, training, social connectedness and cultural diversity.
A diverse economic base was reported to have helped ‘buffer’ Dalby from some of the impacts of the CSG construction boom experienced in what the interviewees referred to as ‘resource towns’, such as Chinchilla. For example, in Dalby, house prices did not spike, and rents did not increase to the same extremes as were observed in Chinchilla.
Business in Dalby
Total business income spiked in 2012-13 and have been declining since. In 2014-15 (the latest ATO data) business income declined, but remains about four times higher than pre-CSG levels. The number of businesses also remains higher. In interviews, questions were raised about how this total income was distributed among local businesses.
Interviewees explained that some industries and business sectors experienced skills shortages as workers were attracted to the higher wages offered by the CSG and related sectors. This migration to the CSG sector caused difficulty in attracting and retaining workers.
As a result, some innovative, non-monetary, loyalty rewards were introduced by local businesses. These measures included offering household services (e.g., lawn mowing) to employees so that they could relax on weekends.
Skills training in Dalby
Training opportunities for local residents were reported to have increased during the ‘CSG boom’.
A significant proportion of training, we heard in interviews, was for CSG contract compliance. For example, experienced tradespeople required formal certification.
Outside the CSG industry, however, uptake in training has been lower and with fewer completions, interviewees stated.
Improvements in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects uptake in schools have been seen following STEM enrichment programs in partnership with CSG companies.
Safety in Dalby
Dalby was described as a ‘very safe’ and ‘friendly’ town. Interviewees did not think that this character had changed as a result of CSG development.
Local police data show variable rates of crime. In 2016, traffic offences increased, partly due to increased police effort.
In 2016, drugs offences and good order offences have levelled off after increasing in 2015. Theft offences increased in 2016.
The overall crime rate continued to increase in 2016 from a period of lower crime between the years 2009-2013.
(*Good Order offences are disorderly or offensive behaviour, which can be threatening or violent, which have the potential to interfere with another person’s peace in a public place.)
Introduction of the Liquor Accord in 2011/12 was described as having curbed the rate of Good Order offences.
Interviewees did not attribute an increase in drugs use to CSG activities.
Traffic offences spiked in peak construction periods, but increased police presence and industry responses were described as being effective. Nevertheless, interviewees expressed concerns about road safety.
Good relations between CSG companies and local police are viewed as helping to maintain public safety.
Outcomes for Dalby
Interviewees said that overall Dalby has ‘done well’ in relation to CSG development. However, the view was expressed that local industries, services and products could be better utilised by CSG companies.
Although appreciated, community investment and contract allocation by CSG industry was described as a ‘pot luck’ approach.
Workers’ camps on the town periphery were not thought to provide many local benefits. Those interviewed expressed the desire to see long-term and widespread benefits for Dalby from CSG industry investment.
See the Dalby booklet for more information
The statistical data and more detailed perspectives from the Dalby interviewees are available in the Dalby booklet. The booklet includes the updated 2016 data, perceptions from interviews and interpretations from UQ researchers.
We would like to thank members of the Dalby 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.