A recent article in the Courier Mail highlighted a dilemma that’s been facing the mining industry for some time now… how to accommodate the large number of employee’s they need to make the most of our current resources boom.

The article (below) talks about the challenges in finding accomodation for workers to ‘live local’ to the mine sites they work in and balancing that against those who FIFO… or ‘Fly In, Fly Out’

We think there’s opportunities for savvy investors in both because it means more rental properties will need to be built in mining towns and also because desirable coastal areas like the Sunshine Coast will benefit from the remaining 70 – 80% of workers who will choose to fly in and fly out from lifestyle locations where their families will live… either way, a win win for Investors.

(Article below written by John McCarthy in The Courier Mail September 02, 2011)

Live local policy forced on BHP

THE State Government has dramatically altered conditions for BHP Billiton’s $4 billion mega mine at Caval Ridge, near Moranbah, in central Queensland, by imposing a “social” bill on the company.

The bill will force BHP to build 400 residential houses and restructure its regional workforce so that at least 20 per cent live locally, while the rest are fly-in, fly-out.

BHP had previously won approval for the mine with a workforce of 70 per cent FIFO, but then outraged the local community by pleading for 100 per cent FIFO because the skills crisis hit and that meant it could not get a workforce locally.

The new conditions mean that BHP may still get its 100 per cent FIFO, but it will have to balance that across its regional workforce with locally-employed workers.

BHP had previously said that unless it could find a workforce it would not go ahead with the project.

The Government’s Co-ordinator General also approved the company’s accommodation village at Buffell Park, overturning the decision of the Isaac Council.

The imposition of a housing strategy is in line with the Bligh Government’s policy of making mining companies provide social infrastructure for the communities they work in.

Coal seam gas companies have also recently announced more than $70 million in housing for communities in Roma and Gladstone.

If you’d like to know more about investment opportunities in some of these areas, contact your Property Coach or call 1800 248 911 and ask to speak to one…

I write this sitting on a flight returning from a research tour in North Queensland and as I look out the window I’m struggling to understand why people are so negative about … well, pretty much everything right now.

What I can see out the window across the aisle is at least 30 container ships lining up to get into the port of Sarina just south of Mackay. There may have been more, but that is all I could count in the moment I had and from the other side of the plane. Each one of those container ships represents the billions of dollars coming into this country as the demand for our resources continues to rise as a third of the world’s population increases their standard of living (a journey that will take a couple of decades). Of all those dollars coming into the country, at least 50% stay here.

Think of all those workers who are paid big money as demand for skilled labour increases and unemployment falls. With higher disposable incomes they spend more and pay more for housing and rents in areas they want to live. The effect of their spending and the cost of other services to support the mining spreads the mining dollars through the community. So why don’t we see it? Well, as sensationalist media reports on how terrible everything is affects people’s habits and consumer mood becomes very conservative, people are simply saving more and not spending.

Of course there are also areas of the economy that are negatively affected by the rising Aussie Dollar. In Queensland there are still the affects of massive floods, cyclones and the subsequent decline in migration here but we need to understand the balanced picture because all we’re getting from the media is one extreme position… the negative one.

I was astounded in Mackay as a couple of locals we’re telling me how fearful they were of the success of the town! The truth is they don’t understand the effect of the carbon tax and the demand for the resources. With the billions being invested in the Bowen Basin in both coal and gas and that one mining company alone needs 750 employees in the area (which of course in turn creates further jobs), the risks are low. Unfortunately the media’s ‘extreme’ cases create a feeling that it is ‘likely’ something bad will happen when in reality, the likelihood of the catastrophe they imply actually occurring is highly unlikely.

I say this about to land on the Sunshine Coast where locals have a similar ‘feeling’ of imminent disaster. Many are negative about the growth prospects yet most have no understanding what is about to take place with the local economy expanding by 10-15%, the largest non mining regional economy in Australia that I can find about to undergo such a significant expansion.

So while I don’t understand why we are so accepting of the opinion and spin fed to us by the media, what I do understand is that fear comes from a lack of knowledge and it is paralyzing.  I also understand that if we are going to change our lot in life we need to act as the only outcome we can guarantee is to do nothing. Alternatively, and this is my challenge to you, seek the knowledge and understanding, don’t accept opinion and overcome the fear as now is a time of opportunity for those that do.

As Warren Buffet said, ‘Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful’

FREE Property Investing Workshop On The Sunshine Coast!

Most of you would already be aware by now that from August 1st the Queensland Government is providing a grant of $10,000 to anyone (company, trust or individual) building a house, buying a house and land package or buying property off the plan.

This could not have come at a better time for those looking to invest in Queensland. The pent up demand for more property in some parts of Queensland has been steadily increasing for a number of years while many other areas of the state are already benefiting from the mining boom or are about to go through significant economic expansion (both mining and non mining related).

How can you capitalise on that?

Investor Property have put together a series of short FREE Property Investing Workshops showing you how to maximise the QBB, and some great developer discounts currently on offer, to make real money from property in this market!

Sunshine Coast Workshops

Tue 26 July          6.30pm

Wed 27 July        6.30pm

Where: Investor Property Wealth Builder Show Home, Birtinya Island Display Village

Limited seats available so call Rachael now on 1800 248 911 to book!

(For information on Workshops in other areas please call Rachael on 1800 248 911)

Queensland Building Boost – Adding Wind To The Perfect Storm

In case you missed the Queensland State Governments latest budget last night, things are about to get very exciting here in the Queensland property scene. From August 1st the Queensland Government is providing a grant of $10,000 for anyone (company, trust or individual) building a house, buying a house and land package or buying property off the plan.

This could not have come at a better time for those looking to invest in Queensland. With currently the lowest numbers of building approvals in the country the pent up demand for more property in Queensland has been steadily increasing for a number of years. Even given the lower migration numbers after the floods and cyclones, the ‘perfect storm’ for investors is still brewing. Not only are the population numbers now on the up, the ‘macro’ doesn’t show the true picture of the many areas in Queensland already benefiting from the mining boom or those about to go through significant economic expansion (both mining and non mining related).

The definition of a ’Perfect Storm’ is when all the factors combine to create a significant and unusual event, in this case, additional support from the government to add the icing on the cake of significant existing investment triggers.

We’ve been preaching the message of why the opportunities are here and now and how the greatest uplift are for those leveraging the ‘buyer’s market’ today. It’s all about to change, don’t let your opportunity to maximise your return – and have the Government pay your holding costs – pass you by.

And what are we doing about it you ask?… watch this space for some sensational house and land package deals!

Grow Your Own Part time Business Helping People Build Wealth Through Property!

One of our motto’s here at Investor Property is that investing is a journey, not an event and what sets us apart from the others in our industry is the level of ongoing advice and support we offer our clients on their journey to help them identify and achieve their property investing goals.

Sometimes the journey of the property investor is a lonely one. Not everyone understands the value of property as a wealth generating asset and there’s always the ‘knockers’ so, we wanted to help passionate investors like yourself build a support network for like minded people, a ‘Tribe’ if you like, of people in your local area, or further afield, to share knowledge and experience and learn new investing strategies to start or enhance their members portfolios.

As a Tribe Leader you will build your own network of like minded individuals, your ‘Tribe’, from your circle of influence and using some local marketing strategies we’ll help you implement and you’ll work with them, getting them started, and then walking with them on their journey to creating wealth through property and, most importantly, helping them keep on track to their property investing pay day!

Each Tribe Leader is assigned an Investor Property Coach who, along with the Investor Tribe support team, will provide you all the tools and systems you need to grow and support your Tribe. Investor Tribe Leaders get paid a fee every time one of your Tribe buys an Investor Property with your help and support and they also get discounts on their own property purchases through Investor Property.

There’s much more we’d like to share with you about Tribes so, if you’re passionate about property and really like the idea of building your own part time business (at least initially) helping other people build wealth through property, give us call on 1800 248 911 and we’ll discuss the opportunity with you in detail or to learn more here, simply click below to look through the Investor Tribes brochure

Click Start Your Own Investor Tribe Brochure to view

Apparently I throw a good party… I know I enjoy them! I think part of that is that I enjoy being generous to others but mostly, it’s about enjoying life’s journey and understanding the ‘journey’ is what gives me energy. That energy also allows me to enjoy life to the full and gives me the ability to be able share that feeling with others. So, what has this to do with property you ask? …everything!

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