In 2024, the Queensland Government introduced legislation mandating the closure of QCoal Group’s Byerwen mine workers’ camp.
This decision meant that relocation of the Mine’s workforce 40 mins away to the tiny town of Glenden—a move enacted without consultation and buried in unrelated legislation.
Recognising the profound impact on their workforce, QCoal anchored the formation of Energy Resources Queensland (ERQ), a coalition of industry leaders including Macmahon, MPK, and JFE (international equity partner).
Wahoo was engaged as ERQ’s agency partner, and a strategic advocacy awareness campaign was developed to counter this decision.
Our objectives:
- Reverse the legislation threatening the Byerwen camp and 800 jobs.
- Advocate for worker choice and equitable treatment across Queensland’s mining sector.
- Hold government accountable to transparent, consultative policymaking.
How we achieved change:
The campaign leveraged a multi-faceted approach:
Public awareness: Through media engagement and platforms like our campaign website, we amplified worker voices, raised a digital partition and rallied statewide support.
Regional advertising campaign: Including TV, radio, outdoor, press and social media and digital channels.
Political advocacy: Targeting the 2024 State Election, we engaged voters and candidates to prioritise fair policies for mining communities.
Coalition strength: Partnering with industry stakeholders, we unified Queensland’s mining sector to oppose legislative overreach.
A victory for choice, fairness, and equity
In March 2025, Queensland Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last announced an extension of the deadline for any partial relocation of workers, to December 2025 and confirmed the camp’s preservation for the mine’s operational life.
At Wahoo we’re justifiably proud of the successful outcome of this campaign. Thanks to relentless advocacy and community support, we helped ensure that 800 workers retained the choice to live on-site.