This follows a recent survey commissioned by Enterprise & Training Company Limited (ETC) and Coffs Harbour Regional Airport and undertaken by local research company, Jetty Research.
"The survey was designed to get a more accurate picture of the number of resource workers living on the Coffs Coast and Clarence Valley and to learn more about their work, travel and training requirements," ETC's CEO Michael Close said.
"Close to 300 people completed the online survey which was conducted over a six week period in September and October 2011. Of this number, 225 provided valid and complete responses.
"Jetty Research estimates that this could equate to an actual fly-in/fly-out population of between 280 and 375 across the Coffs Coast and Clarence Valley*."
Mr Close said the survey found that 76 per cent of current resource workers have mid-north coast based friends or family who are actively considering working in the mining, oil or gas industries.
"Furthermore, during the survey period an additional 215 people contacted ETC and Jetty Research seeking work in the resource sector. Together with the research findings, this suggests a sizeable potential pool of fly-in/fly-out workers in the region," Mr Close said.
Among the survey's major conclusions:
- About two-thirds of respondents lived in the Coffs Harbour LGA
- Just over half (52 per cent) worked in Western Australia, with a further 33 per cent travelling to Queensland
- One in five respondents travelled through Karratha, with 13 per cent finishing their trip in Perth, 10 per cent each in Mackay and Brisbane and 7 per cent in Port Headland
- Three-quarters of respondents return to their place of residence on at least 80 per cent of their breaks
- Just over half (55 per cent) were looking to complete further work-related training.
Manager of the Coffs Harbour Regional Airport, Dennis Martin said he was very interested to learn about the impact existing travel arrangements had on the workers and their families.
"The research showed a lot of frustration with the time and money spent travelling from mine sites to the Coffs Coast," Mr Martin said.
"Coffs Harbour is fortunate to have the largest regional airport in NSW and is one of the few regional centres capable of handling large and long-distance jet services.
"I'm keen to make the most of our existing infrastructure by talking to different airline carriers about chartering direct flights to mining towns."
ETC and Coffs Harbour Regional Airport and now making contact with different mining companies to determine the possibility of working together.
"We are ideally placed to develop a workforce for mining companies based around their recruitment and training needs," Mr Close said.
"We are very interested in talking to mining companies about how we can work together for the benefit of new and existing mining workers."