Some good structured comments here, I thank you all for that.

In reality, the CSG boom is unlike any other boom, as once the infrastructure phase is complete, up to 90% of these workers will be gone, and my fear is the locals will be gone as well, what then!

You see CSG wells are self operating and once commissioned, they require periodic inspections and maintenance. They even have wireless monitoring shoukd something fail.

STG as for rents, my suggestion is that mining rents shoukd be levied and these funds used to subsidize locals rents, on a case by case basis.

Then there's the other side, whereby I know of an older gentleman who is renting his three spare rooms out, including three meals a day, for $1000 per week, per room.

Ludwig, as I say, this is not your normal boom.

sonofgloin, I liken the mining issue to that of a pub with pokies. They simply can't survive now without them. Same same for our governments.

Yabby, funny you should mention that, as the council did gift some land to a local developer, but as usual, the 'i's wernt dotted and the 'T's wernt crossed, so the end result is this land is now some of the land that is selling for $200K per lot, yet cost the developer nothing to acquire.

If councils/governments had any brains they would have placed a caveat on the land which could have been removed once they received what was agreed on as reasonable recompense

*so the end result is this land is now some of the land that is selling for $200K per lot, yet cost the developer nothing to acquire.*

Well there you go, Rehctub. Either a bit of corruption going on or
just sheer pure stupidity by the council. They could have leased
the land out to the miners for a good rent, to whack some transportables on there for the construction phase, then moved them
on to the next mining project, in a few years time.

It would actually be a great business plan for some company, but no
doubt the local govt red tape would be so great, as to make it virtually
unworkable, no matter how sensible it is.

Negative man, Rechtub, such is life.
Why are you concerned about an industry that may well be still going in a hundred years.
And surely you understand those same blocks once sold for 6 pence an acre?

Belly, I'm not negative about this industry, in fact, I'm a supporter, but not when they effect prime land.

Personally, I have benefitted more than most from it, as I have a pilot program on one of my lots. Nice rent payment and a chance of early retirement for me.

But that doesn't stop me from showing concerns for the towns effected by the boom.

Accommodating the workers is only one problem, it the cost of many things that are the worry, grocerries being the exception.

A spare part for one of my motors cost me about 30% more than it should, why, because this supplier is one who is benefiting from the boom, but many others don't.

We see many businesses trying to employ staff, but they can't cause there is nowhere to live.

Some business owners are trying to place dongers on their land to house staff, but the hoops they have to jump through make it cost prohibitive in many cases.

If you offer someone $25 per hour here, they laugh, as $120K per year, 2 on 2 off is the new norm.

But, as I have said previously, this is not your typical boom, as this influx of workers will be gone in a few years.

Hopefully the locals won't be gone as well, but that's the likely case.

BTW, does anyone remember the $1 land deal from the Jandowie council, aimed at attracting people to town.

Well that's right in the heart of gas land.

I do not know how closely related Coal Seam Gas is to Shale Seam Gas
and whether similar depletion rates are experienced for both.

However Shale Seam Gas in the US is experiencing depletion rates of 50%
a year. This usually means that a particular well lasts about two years.
This means a company has to keep on drilling all the time with no just
sitting back and selling gas.
The result is that many companies become Ponzi Schemes in always
needing new funds. Many shale gas companies in the US are in financial
trouble with no way out.

Does anyone know the depletion rate of CSG wells ?
If there is any similarity it could mean that they will all be gone
in a few years.

Bazz, what I have been advised, by industry people, is that the average well lasts for about thirty years. They start drawing from the bottom, stay there for a couple of years, then progressively raise the pump towards the top.

The first few years are usually the most productive.

Then there are companies who use fraking, this process is different again.

Our CSG is contained within the coal seams and is held below by water.

This water is drawn off, stored, then treated prior to release or use.

There are several trials being conducted with the treated water, growing crops.

I have heard that in one case, not sure where, they grew some corn, and while it looked like normal corn, it had no protein content.

Experts put this down to the lack of minerals.