In its final day of hearings in Western Australia yesterday the House Standing Committee on Regional Australia heard submissions in Kalgoorlie-Boulder from the local council, the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Shire of Yilgarn.

The committee heard evidence regarding the doubling of populations is some shires of the mining-rich region and the impact it has had on service delivery, recruitment and retention of workers and their families.

The city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder submitted that employees were being penalised for choosing to live with their families in regional Australia.

It also called for mining companies to accept more responsibility to ensure the sustainability of regional Australia.

Committee chairman Tony Windsor said the committee was happy to meet residents and hear about their ideas to build strong regional communities.

“The committee has travelled extensively in Western Australia and Queensland and the Goldfields community are not alone in their concerns,” he said.

The inquiry moves to regional New South Wales next month.