Wandoan First Is A Blueprint for Regional And National Renewal

Why Wandoan’s Story Reflects Regional Australia’s Promise & Challenge.

Article Disclaimer.

1. Purpose of This Article: This article is a visionary proposal. It is not financial advice, legal advice, or investment guidance. Its purpose is to explore what could be possible if government, industry, and community aligned around a shared purpose. Nothing in this document should be taken as a guarantee of outcomes. It is a blueprint for imagination, debate, and hope.

2. Transparency: The analysis and ideas presented here draw on publicly available information, informed comparisons with similar projects, and the craft of storytelling. Where figures or estimates appear, they represent reasoned speculation rather than definitive forecasts. This is commentary designed to inspire discussion, not instruction to act.

3. Respect for Stakeholders: This article honours the people of Wandoan, the governments that serve them, and the industries that operate in the region. It assumes good faith from all parties and seeks to demonstrate how aligned interests could create extraordinary outcomes. The views expressed are those of the author alone and do not represent any organisation.

4. Responsibility of Readers: Readers are encouraged to seek their own independent professional advice before making any financial, legal, or investment decisions. This article is intended to spark ideas and conversation, not to substitute for expert counsel.

5. Vision, Speculation & The Future: The future actions of government, industry and community stakeholders, including project proponents are impossible to predict. Any scenarios described in this article remain speculative and should be read as creative proposals, not promises or forecasts. The author makes no guarantee that projects described will proceed as envisioned or for that matter, anything close to it.

Article Summary.

I believe that the town of Wandoan in Queensland, Australia, is a seed waiting for sunlight. For decades, this small Queensland town has been promised prosperity that never arrived.

Coal projects were announced, land prices soared, and hope surged, only to be met with silence, stagnation, and the slow exodus of families who could no longer afford to wait.

This article presents Wandoan First, a ten year framework that could transform Wandoan from a cautionary tale into a national model.

The concept is simple but radical: before coal leaves the ground, before gas powers distant cities, before profits flow to shareholders, prosperity must flow to Wandoan and its surrounding region first.

Under Wandoan First, workers would live in town, not fly in and out. Local businesses would supply the mine and infrastructure projects.

Residents would receive cheap electricity and gas, fuel discounts, and tax concessions. Housing would be built. Services would expand.

The town would grow, not as a casualty of resource extraction, but as its primary beneficiary.

This is not charity. This is strategy.

By anchoring economic benefits to the community, Wandoan First creates a stable, committed workforce, reduces project risk and demonstrates that regional Australia can thrive when government and industry share a common purpose.

The costs are significant: five to seven billion Australian dollars for mine development, two to three billion for rail infrastructure, plus housing, services, and environmental compliance.

The rewards, however, are transformational, not just for Wandoan, but for every forgotten town across Australia that has been promised the world and delivered nothing.

This article explores the history, the economics, the policy levers and the human stories behind Wandoan First.

It is written as a manual for hope, because hope is not naïve.

Hope is strategy with heart.

Table of Contents.

1. Introduction: Why Wandoan, Why Now.

2. The Past: Lessons from Broken Promises.

3. The Present: Where We Stand Today.

4. The Future Without Intervention.

5. The Wandoan First Concept

6. The Costs and the Tasks.

7. The Wandoan First Rules.

8. Fiscal Levers: The Role of Government.

9. The Role of Industry.

10. The Role of the Community.

11. Regional Prosperity Ripple Effect.

12. The Energy Dividend.

13. The Marketing and Storytelling Strategy.

14. Risks and Safeguards.

15. Conclusion: A Manual for Hope In QLD & Australia.

16. Bibliography

1. Introduction: Why Wandoan, Why Now.

1.1 The Forgotten Promises: A Town Promised Prosperity, Delivered Very Little

In 2008, Wandoan was on the brink of becoming a boomtown. Xstrata (now Glencore) Coal announced plans for a massive open cut coal mine that would employ thousands and generate billions in export revenue.

Property investors descended on the town like locusts, buying up land and housing in anticipation of a gold rush.

From what I can discover, prices tripled. Families who had lived there for generations must have been shocked about and possibly even excited about what was going on.

Then nothing happened.

Approvals stalled. Markets shifted. The mine remained a line on a map, a promise suspended in regulatory limbo.

Property values collapsed. Investors fled. The people who stayed were left holding mortgages on homes now worth a fraction of what they paid.

Wandoan became a symbol of broken promises, a cautionary tale whispered across regional Queensland: do not believe the hype.

But the story does not end there. The coal is still in the ground. The approvals, after years of review, are largely in place.

The infrastructure corridors are mapped. The opportunity has not disappeared.

It has simply been shelved, I believe it’s just in need of a new approach, a different kind of commitment, one that puts Wandoan First.

1.2 The Symbolism of Wandoan: A Microcosm of Regional Australia.

Wandoan is not unique. It is a microcosm. Across regional Australia, small towns have been promised transformation by resource projects, only to watch wealth extracted and exported while local communities bear the costs.

Fly in fly out workforces mean that wages leave with the workers.

Housing shortages drive up rents and the cost of new houses for our kids.

Local businesses lose out to national supply chains.

The land is scarred, the royalties flow to state coffers and the town itself is left largely unchanged, or worse, diminished.

This pattern is not inevitable. It is a choice.

Wandoan represents a chance to demonstrate that resource development can enrich the communities it touches, not just the companies that operate there.

If it works in Wandoan, surely it can work anywhere.

1.3 Demonstrating How Marketing, Storytelling & Policy Can Drive Change.

This article exists because storytelling matters.

Marketing is not just about selling products. It is about shaping perception, building brands, creating movements, as well as ‘special moments’.

Wandoan First is both a policy framework and a narrative device.

It is designed to be sticky, memorable and emotionally resonant.

It gives people something to believe in and something to fight for.

The intent here is not to offer financial advice or to lobby for a specific company. It is to show what becomes possible when vision, policy and community align.

This is a blueprint for regional renewal, written in the language of hope.

2.0 The Past: Lessons from Broken Promises.

2.1 The Coal Boom That Never Arrived.

The Wandoan Coal Project was approved by the Queensland Coordinator General in 2010. It was one of the largest proposed developments in the state, with plans for up to forty million tonnes of thermal coal per year.

Environmental impact statements were completed. Rail corridors were identified. The project was shovel ready, pending final investment decisions.

But the boom never came. Global coal prices softened. Environmental activism intensified. Financing became harder to secure.

The joint venture owners, originally including Xstrata/later Glencore and other partners — put the project on hold. For more than a decade, it has remained dormant, a ghost of what might have been.

The lesson is clear: promises without action are worse than no promises at all.

They create instability, drive speculation and leave communities vulnerable.

2.2 The Property Bubble and Its Victims.

When the mine was first announced, Wandoan experienced a property frenzy.

Houses that sold for one hundred thousand dollars in 2007 were listed for three hundred thousand or more by 2010.

Investors bought everything they could, betting on a flood of workers and families who would need somewhere to live.

The flood never came though.

By 2015, property values had crashed back to pre boom levels, or lower.

Families who bought at the peak found themselves underwater on their mortgages. Investors walked away. The local real estate market became a graveyard of failed speculation.

This is not a story of greed that needs to be punished.

It is a story of hope exploited.

The people who bought homes in Wandoan believed in the promises made by government and industry.

They acted in good faith and I personally believe they deserve better!

2.3 Fly In Fly Out Culture and the “Ghost Town” Effect.

Even when resource projects do proceed, many regional towns see little benefit if the workforce flies in and out.

Workers stay in camps, spend money in company stores, and leave no trace in the local economy. The town becomes a backdrop, not a participant.

This is the ghost town effect: economic activity without community benefit.

It is efficient for companies but devastating for towns. Wandoan First is designed explicitly to prevent this outcome.

2.4 What Wandoan Teaches Us About Hype Versus Delivery.

Wandoan teaches us that announcements are not outcomes.

That approvals are not commitments.

That hope without action is a cruelty.

If Wandoan First is to succeed, it must be built on transparency, accountability, and enforceable agreements.

No more hype. Only delivery.

3.0 The Present: Where We Stand Today.

3.1 Current Population, Economy, and Infrastructure Snapshot.

Today, Wandoan is home to approximately 665, according to the latest census data, though the broader shire population is larger.

The town has a pub, a general store, a primary school, and a handful of services. It sits on the Leichhardt Highway, a key freight route, about four hundred kilometres northwest of Brisbane.

The economy is primarily agricultural: cattle grazing, cropping, and some cotton farming. Seasonal work brings temporary boosts, and in recent years renewable energy construction has provided additional employment.

The town is quiet, functional and adapting to new opportunities beyond what it was originally promised.

3.2 Land and Housing Values: Reality Compared to Past Expectations.

Housing prices in Wandoan today are modest. A family home might sell for one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand dollars, depending on condition and size.

Land is cheap. Acreage blocks just outside town can be had for fifty thousand to one hundred thousand dollars.

Compared to the three hundred thousand dollar peak during the boom, this represents a collapse.

However, it also represents opportunity.

For anyone looking to build a community anchored economy, I believe that Wandoan offers one of the lowest cost bases in Queensland.

3.3 Renewable Energy Projects: Short Term Lift, Long Term Limits.

In recent years, Wandoan has seen activity from renewable energy developers. Wind and solar farms have been proposed or are under construction in the region. These projects bring construction jobs and some ongoing maintenance work, but they do not create the same long term employment or community anchoring that a coal mine or gas project would.

Renewables are part of the future, but they are not the whole story.

Wandoan needs something bigger, something extraordinary, something that builds permanence, something that will feature in the headlines and be constantly discussed on the evening news (hopes and dreams realised in QLD).

3.4 The Coal Mine: Still a Sleeping Giant.

The Wandoan Coal Project remains approved but undeveloped. The resource is still there, estimated at over one billion tonnes of thermal coal in the ground.

The approvals, while potentially requiring updates after years of dormancy, provide a foundation. The rail corridor to the port at Gladstone has been identified and preliminarily planned.

This is not a dead project. It’s sleeping giant. All I think it needs is the right alignment of policy, financing and community commitment.

4.0 The Future Without Intervention.

4.1 Cyclical Booms and Busts.

Without a deliberate intervention like Wandoan First, the town’s future will likely follow the same pattern as its past: occasional bursts of activity tied to construction projects, followed by long stretches of stagnation.

Workers will fly in, spend nothing locally, and leave.

Property speculators will circle, hoping for another bubble. The community will remain vulnerable to forces beyond its control.

4.2 The Risk of Permanent Stagnation.

There is a darker possibility: that Wandoan slowly fades.

That young people leave and never return.

That services close because there are not enough customers.

That the town becomes one of the many forgotten dots on the map of regional Australia, a place where people once lived but no longer do.

This is not inevitable, but it is possible and I believe it’s preventable.

4.3 Why “Business as Usual” Is Not Enough.

Business as usual has already been tried. It does not work. Resource companies extract value and export it.

Governments collect royalties and spend them elsewhere. Communities bear the costs and receive little of the benefit.

Wandoan First is a rejection of business as usual.

It is a demand for something better.

5.0 The Wandoan First Concept.

5.1 Definition: A 10yr Trial of Government, Industry & Community Alignment.

Wandoan First is a ten year framework I recently though up in which government, industry and community commit to a shared goal: that the people of Wandoan and the surrounding region must be the primary beneficiaries of resource development in their area.

This is not charity. This is alignment.

By ensuring that prosperity flows locally first, Wandoan First creates the conditions for long term success.

Workers who live in town are more committed.

Local businesses that supply the project invest in growth. Families who see a future in Wandoan stay, build and contribute.

5.2 Core Principle: Prosperity Must Flow to the Town and Region First.

The core principle is simple: before coal is exported, before gas powers distant cities, before profits flow to shareholders, the people of Wandoan must benefit. This means cheap electricity.

This means local jobs.

This means housing, services, and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

This is not a tax on industry. It is a redesign of priorities.

I believe that it makes economic sense.

A stable, thriving community reduces project risk, attracts skilled workers and creates the social license that resource projects desperately need.

5.3 Wandoan First as Both a Policy Framework and a Brand.

Wandoan First is a policy framework, yes. But it is also a brand.

It is a rallying cry. It is a promise that can be measured and enforced.

It is something people can believe in, fight for, and hold leaders accountable to.

Branding matters because it creates emotional resonance.

Wandoan First is not just a set of rules.

It is an identity and that my dear readers is what makes it powerful.

6.0 The Costs and the Tasks.

6.1 Mine Development (Estimated at 5 > 7 Billion AUD).

Developing the Wandoan Coal Project would require significant capital investment. Estimates suggest five to seven billion Australian dollars for mine infrastructure, equipment, and early stage operations.

This I believe includes:

1. Open cut mining equipment (draglines, excavators, haul trucks).

2. Processing and handling facilities.

3. Water management and environmental controls.

4. Site preparation and access roads.

This is not a small undertaking. It requires joint venture partners with deep pockets and long term commitment.

6.2 Rail Link (Estimated at 2 > 3 Billion AUD).

The rail link from Wandoan to the Port of Gladstone is the most expensive and complex piece of the puzzle.

Estimates suggest two to three billion Australian dollars for approximately two hundred kilometres of heavy haul rail line.

This I believe includes:

1. Track construction and signaling.

2. Bridges and cuttings.

3. Integration with existing rail networks.

4. Rolling stock (locomotives and coal wagons).

This is infrastructure that benefits not just the coal mine but potentially other industries, including agriculture and manufacturing.

6.3 Port Access and Logistics.

Gladstone is already a major coal export port, but additional capacity may be required depending on the volume of coal transported.

This could potentially involve:

1. Expansion of existing terminals.

2. Stockpiling and ship loading infrastructure.

3. Coordination with other users of the port.

Port access is often the bottleneck in resource projects.

Early engagement with port operators and government is critical.

6.4 Housing, Motels, and Services.

To support a residential workforce under Wandoan First, significant investment in housing and services is required. This includes:

1. Construction of at least five hundred to one thousand new homes.

2. Motels and short term accommodation for contractors.

3. Expansion of schools, healthcare, and childcare.

4. Retail and hospitality businesses.

This is not a burden. This is an opportunity.

Local builders, tradespeople and service providers would be the primary beneficiaries.

6.5 Environmental Compliance and Rehabilitation.

Environmental management is non negotiable. The Wandoan Coal Project must meet or exceed all regulatory requirements, including:

1. Water quality monitoring and management

2. Air quality controls

3. Biodiversity offsets and land rehabilitation

4. Progressive rehabilitation of mined areas

These costs are significant but manageable, and they are already baked into modern mining approvals.

Wandoan First does not reduce environmental standards.

It ensures that the community benefits while those standards are met.

7.0 The Wandoan First Rules.

7.1 Housing Priority: At Least Half of the Workforce Must Live in Town.

The single most important rule of Wandoan First is this: at least fifty percent of the mine’s workforce must live in Wandoan or the surrounding region. Not in camps. Not flying in and out. Living in town, with their families, as permanent residents.

This creates demand for housing, schools, services, and community infrastructure. It turns Wandoan from a drive through town into a destination. It builds permanence.

7.2 Wandoan First Card: Fuel Discounts, Local Benefits, and Tax Offsets.

Workers and residents enrolled in the Wandoan First program would receive a Wandoan First Card, which I think could provide:

1. Discounted fuel at local service stations (offset by fuel excise rebates).

2. Discounted electricity and gas for households.

3. Access to tax concessions for income earned while living in Wandoan.

4. Priority access to local services and housing.

This card would I believe become a badge of pride, a tangible benefit of being part of the Wandoan First Community.

7.3 Local Sourcing Requirements for Goods and Services.

The mine and associated infrastructure projects must prioritise local suppliers wherever possible.

I think this should include but is not limited to:

1. Food and catering services.

2. Equipment maintenance and repair.

3. Transport and logistics.

4. Construction and trades.

Where local capacity does not exist, the project must invest in building it through training and partnerships.

7.4 Gas Projects In The Area.

I believe that under the Wandoan First trial, they must power a local CCGT Power Plant (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine)first and provide cheap electricity for residents & businesses, they should also provide cheap gas.

If gas is extracted in the Wandoan region, the first priority must be to power a local gas turbine that provides cheap electricity to residents and businesses.

Only after local needs are met should gas be compressed and put into a metred pipeline to be exported or sold elsewhere. This would ensure that the people who live above the resource are the first to benefit from it.

7.5 Reduce Red & Green Tape for ‘Wandoan First’ Compliant Projects.

Government, at both state and federal levels, should streamline approvals and reduce red tape for projects that comply with Wandoan First principles.

This is not about lowering environmental or safety standards. It is about recognising that projects that benefit communities deserve priority treatment.

8.0 Fiscal Levers: The Role of Government (Federal & QLD).

8.1 Income Tax Concessions for Wandoan First Workers.

The federal government could provide income tax concessions for workers who live in Wandoan under the Wandoan First framework. This could take the form of:

1. A percentage reduction in taxable income (e.g., 10 to 20%).

2. A flat annual rebate (e.g., 5 to 10k).

3. Superannuation matching for workers who commit to living in Wandoan for a minimum period.

I believe these concessions would make Wandoan an attractive place to live, offsetting the perceived isolation with real financial benefit.

There’s probably other levels that Govt could pull in addition but this would be a good starting point in my opinion.

8.2 Payroll Tax Relief for Wandoan First Businesses.

The Queensland government could exempt or reduce payroll tax for businesses that operate under the Wandoan First framework and employ local residents. This would:

1. Reduce the cost of hiring locally.

2. Encourage businesses to establish in Wandoan.

3. Create a competitive advantage for Wandoan based employers.

8.3 Stamp Duty Concessions for Housing.

Stamp duty is a significant cost when purchasing property. The Queensland government could waive or reduce stamp duty for:

First home buyers in Wandoan.
Workers relocating to Wandoan for Wandoan First employment.
Investors building new housing stock in the town.

This would stimulate the housing market and make it easier for families to put down roots.

8.4 Fuel Excise Rebates.

Fuel costs are a significant burden in regional areas.

The federal government could provide fuel excise rebates for Wandoan First cardholders, reducing the cost of petrol and diesel by up to forty cents per litre. This I believe would:

Make living in Wandoan more affordable.
Support local service stations.
Reduce the financial penalty of living far from major cities.

8.5 Infrastructure Co Funding (Rail, Schools, Hospitals).

Government should co fund critical infrastructure, including:

The rail link to Gladstone (shared benefit with future industries).
Expansion of the local school.
Upgrade of healthcare facilities.
Road improvements.

This is not corporate welfare. This is investment in regional Australia.

The returns, in terms of economic activity and population growth, would I imagine far exceed the initial outlay.

9.0 The Role of Industry.

9.1 Joint Venture Owners: Long Term Commitment to Community.

The companies behind the Wandoan Coal Project must commit, publicly and contractually, to the principles of Wandoan First.

This would I believe mean:

1. Building housing, not camps.

2. Hiring locally, not flying in.

3. Sourcing from regional suppliers.

4. Investing in community infrastructure.

This is a long term commitment, not a short term extraction play.

It requires patience, but it reduces risk and builds social license.

9.2 Local Hiring and Training Programs.

Industry must invest in training programs that prepare local residents for mine employment.

This includes:

1. Apprenticeships and traineeships.

2. Partnerships with regional TAFE institutions.

3. On the job training and mentorship programs.

This is not charity. This is workforce development.

A TAFE/University outreach building could be established in the town and the costs for this could be split between industry and Govt.

A local workforce is more stable, more committed, and more invested in the project’s success.

9.3 Transparent Reporting on Wandoan First Compliance.

Industry must report annually on compliance with Wandoan First principles.

This I believe would include:

1. Percentage of workforce living locally.

2. Value of goods and services sourced from regional suppliers.

3. Community investments made.

4. Energy and fuel benefits provided to residents.

Transparency builds trust and trust builds social license.

Social license is the foundation of long term success and the glue that will bind the community together.

9.4 Partnerships with Small Business and Equipment Suppliers.

Industry should actively seek partnerships with local small businesses and equipment suppliers. This could include:

1. Guaranteed contracts for local providers

2. Financial support for capacity building

3. Joint ventures for service delivery

These partnerships create economic resilience beyond the mine itself.

10.0 The Role of the Community.

10.1 Welcoming New Families and Workers.

The success of Wandoan First depends on the community embracing new arrivals.

This I think means:

1. Welcoming newcomers to schools, clubs, and community events.

2. Building a culture of inclusion and shared purpose.

3. Recognising that growth brings change, and change brings opportunity.

This is not always easy, but in my opinion, it is essential.

10.2 Building Civic Pride Around Wandoan First.

Wandoan First should become a source of pride for the community.

This means:

1. Celebrating milestones and successes

2. Holding leaders accountable to the framework

3. Using the Wandoan First brand in local businesses and events

Celebrating Success is a Lean Principle and it builds Pride.

Pride in a project builds resilience and resilience builds community.

10.3 Local Entrepreneurship Opportunities.

Wandoan First creates opportunities for local entrepreneurs to start or expand businesses. This includes:

Cafes, restaurants, and retail shops
Trade services (plumbing, electrical, construction)
Childcare, healthcare, and professional services
Tourism and hospitality

A thriving local economy is the best evidence that Wandoan First is working.

10.4 Accountability: Ensuring Benefits Are Shared Fairly.

The community must hold both government and industry accountable.

To me, this means:

1. Monitoring compliance with Wandoan First rules.

2. Ensuring that benefits are shared broadly, not captured by a few.

3. Speaking up when commitments are not met.

Accountability is not adversarial. It is the foundation of trust.

11.0 Regional Prosperity Ripple Effect.

11.1 Acreage Living and Lifestyle Migration.

Cheap land around Wandoan creates opportunities for acreage living.

Families who want space, privacy and a rural lifestyle could build homes on affordable blocks within commuting distance of the mine.

This would create:

1. Demand for rural real estate.

2. Opportunities for small scale agriculture and hobby farming.

3. A lifestyle dividend that attracts skilled workers.

11.2 Spillover into Nearby Towns.

The prosperity generated by Wandoan First would not necessarily be confined to just this town.

I believe that nearby communities like Taroom, Miles, and Chinchilla would/could also benefit from:

1. Increased traffic and tourism.

2. Regional supply chain opportunities.

3. Shared infrastructure investments.

I believe that regional prosperity is a network effect.

When one town thrives, its neighbours benefit.

11.3 Agricultural Synergies (Cheap Power, Water, Logistics).

Cheap electricity from locally produced power could transform agriculture in the region.

Farmers could benefit from the cheaper electricity in a few ways I imagine:

1. The costs associated with wells & Irrigation.

2. Cold storage and processing facilities.

3. Value adding operations (branching out into other things that might be electricity consumption intensive)

The rail link to Gladstone could also benefit agricultural exporters, providing efficient transport for grain and other products.

11.4 Manufacturing & Service Industries Attracted by Low Costs.

Wandoan First creates the lowest cost operating environment in Queensland. This could attract:

1. Manufacturing operations that need cheap energy.

2. Data centres that require power and cooling.

3. Logistics and warehousing operations.

These industries would diversify the economy beyond coal, creating long term resilience.

12.0 The Energy Dividend.

12.1 Gas to Power: Cheap Electricity for Locals.

If gas is developed in the Wandoan region, the first priority must be a local gas turbine that generates electricity for residents and businesses.

This could provide:

1. Electricity at half the cost of grid power

2. Energy security and reliability

3. A competitive advantage for local businesses

This is the energy dividend: the people who live above the resource are the first to benefit from it.

12.2 Gas for Households: Heating, Hot Water, and Cooking.

Residents could also receive piped natural gas for household use, dramatically reducing costs for:

1. Hot water heating.

2. Space heating.

3. Cooking

This is a quality of life improvement that makes Wandoan more liveable and more affordable.

I also think that if the gas was cheap enough, farmers could even look at putting gas fired power generators on their properties and running them 24/7 and feeding power to the grid (just an extra thought).

12.3 Renewable Integration: Solar and Gas Hybrid.

Wandoan is ideal for solar power. By combining solar generation with gas turbine backup, the town could achieve:

1. Near zero cost electricity during the day.

2. Reliable power at night.

3. A model for hybrid energy systems.

This is not a choice between renewables and fossil fuels. This is about using all available resources intelligently.

12.4 Wandoan as an Energy Hub, Not Just a Coal Town.

With coal, gas, solar, and efficient rail access, Wandoan could become an energy hub for central Queensland.

This creates opportunities for:

1. Energy intensive industries.

2. Export of electricity to the grid.

3. Research and innovation in hybrid energy systems.

This is a vision beyond extraction. This is a vision of transformation.

13.0 The Marketing and Storytelling Strategy.

13.1 Branding Wandoan First: A Badge of Pride.

Wandoan First is not just policy. It is a brand.

A brand that needs a visual identity, a tagline and consistent messaging across all platforms.

This includes:

A logo and colour scheme.
Signage throughout the town.
Digital presence (website, social media).
Merchandise (shirts, hats, stickers).

A brand done right can become a unifying symbol, something residents and workers can rally around. Who knows, we might even see a few pollies wearing these shirts if they believed in it enough.

13.2 Narrative Tension: Promises Versus Delivery.

The story of Wandoan is built on tension: the promises made versus the delivery achieved. This tension is powerful because it is real, it’s been lived and it’s being experienced today.

Every piece of content about Wandoan First should acknowledge this history and frame the new framework as a resolution of that tension.

Storytelling is about conflict and resolution.

Wandoan has lived the conflict.

Wandoan First is the resolution.

13.3 Metaphors: Wandoan as a Seed Waiting for Sunlight.

Metaphors make concepts memorable.

Wandoan is a seed waiting for sunlight. It has everything it needs to grow, the soil, the water, the potential, but it needs the right conditions.

Wandoan First is the sunlight and other metaphors include:

1. Wandoan as a sleeping giant.

2. Wandoan as a blank canvas.

3. Wandoan as a test case for regional renewal.

13.4 Storytelling Channels: Blog, Media, Community Forums.

The story of Wandoan First should be told across multiple channels:

A dedicated blog or website.
Social media platforms.
Local and national media (newspapers, radio, television).
Community forums and town hall meetings.

Each channel serves a different audience and purpose, but the message must be consistent. If we keep the rest of the world informed (should this go ahead), it could spread a message of hope to anyone, anywhere.

13.5 Positioning Wandoan First as a National Test Case.

Wandoan First is not just about Wandoan.

It is about every regional town in Australia that has been promised prosperity and delivered nothing. By positioning Wandoan as a test case, the framework becomes a model that could be replicated elsewhere.

This national framing could attract considerable media attention, policy interest, and public support. It would make Wandoan First bigger than just one town.

After all, when was the last time in Australia that we saw something happening in rural Australia that would make our hearts swell with pride?

14. Risks and Safeguards.

14.1 Commodity Price Volatility.

Coal prices fluctuate. A project that is viable at one hundred and fifty dollars per tonne may not be viable at eighty dollars per tonne.

This creates risk for both industry and community and safeguards would have to include:

1. Long term contracts that lock in pricing.

2. Diversification beyond coal (gas, renewables, manufacturing).

3. Government co investment that reduces project risk.

14.2 Policy Shifts and Political Risk.

Governments change. Policies change. That’s the way it goes.

Perish the thought of a new team acknowledging that the old team actually did one thing right, or even partially right.

What is supported today may be opposed tomorrow.

This is particularly true for coal projects in an era of climate concern.

Safeguards would have to include:

1. Bipartisan support for Wandoan First principles.

2. Contractual agreements that survive changes in government.

3. Transparent reporting that builds public support.

14.3 Environmental and Social Concerns.

Resource projects carry environmental risks. Water contamination, air quality, land degradation, and biodiversity loss are real concerns that must be managed rigorously.

Safeguards would have to include:

1. Strict environmental compliance and monitoring.

2. Progressive rehabilitation of mined land.

3. Community oversight and independent audits.

Social concerns include the risk of inequality, where benefits flow to a small group rather than the broader community.

This is addressed through the Wandoan First rules, which ensure broad distribution of benefits.

14.4 Safeguards: Transparency, Community Oversight, Exit Strategies.

Transparency is the foundation of trust. All aspects of the Wandoan First framework must be open to public scrutiny, including:

1. Compliance reports.

2. Financial flows.

3. Environmental monitoring data.

Community oversight ensures that residents have a voice in decision making. This could include:

1. A Wandoan First advisory committee.

2. Regular town hall meetings.

3. Independent audits of compliance.

Exit strategies ensure that if the project fails or is wound down, the community is not left worse off. This could include:

1. Rehabilitation bonds.

2. Community investment funds.

3. Guarantees for housing and infrastructure.

15. Conclusion: A Manual for Hope In QLD & Australia.

15.1 Restating the Vision: Wandoan as a Model for Regional Renewal.

Wandoan is a seed waiting for sunlight. For too long, this town has been promised prosperity and delivered nothing.

Wandoan First is the chance to flip the script, to demonstrate that resource development can enrich communities, not just extract from them.

The vision is simple: before coal leaves the ground, before gas powers distant cities, before profits flow to shareholders, the people of Wandoan must benefit.

Workers must live in town. Local businesses must supply the project.

Residents must receive cheap electricity and gas.

Families must see a future worth staying for.

This is not charity. This is alignment. When government, industry, and community share a common purpose, extraordinary things become possible.

15.2 The Call to Action: Government, Industry, and Community.

Wandoan First requires action from all three pillars.

Government should:

Providing tax concessions and infrastructure co funding.
Streamlining approvals for compliant projects.
Hold industry accountable to Wandoan First principles.

Industry should:

Commit to building, if they are going to be extracting.
Hire locally and source locally.
Report transparently on compliance.

Community should:

Welcome new families and workers
Build civic pride around Wandoan First
Hold leaders accountable

This is a partnership. It requires trust, patience, and commitment from everyone involved. Ideally, I’d like to replace the word ‘should’ with ‘must’ for this section.

15.3 The Legacy: What It Means for Queensland, and for Australia.

If Wandoan First succeeds, it becomes a model. Every regional town in Australia that has been promised the world and delivered nothing could look to Wandoan and say: if they can do it, so can we.

This is the legacy: a blueprint for regional renewal that puts people first.

A demonstration that government and industry can work together to create prosperity that stays local.

A proof that hope is not naïve, it is strategy with heart.

15.4 Final Note: Hope Is Not Naïve — It Is Strategy with Heart.

Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is not passive. Hope is the decision to believe that things can be better, and then to act on that belief.

Wandoan has been let down before. The people who live there have every reason to be sceptical, to protect themselves against disappointment.

However, they also deserve the chance to hope again, to dream again, to look forward to the future with eyes wide open, backed by agreements that are enforceable and transparent. Wandoan First is a manual for hope.

It is a demonstration that marketing, storytelling, and policy can come together to drive real change. It is a seed waiting for sunlight.

The question is not whether Wandoan can thrive.

The question is whether we have the will and the guts to make it happen.

The answer should be yes.

15. Bibliography.

1. Regional Development in Australia: Being Regional — Bill Pritchard, et al.

2. Energy and Rural Transformation in Australia — Andrew Blakers, et al.

3. Australian Coal: Politics and Policy — Judith Brett

4. Renewable Energy and Regional Development — Sina Kabiri, et al.

5. Community Planning: Integrating Social and Physical Environment — Brent Ryan

6. Rural Change and Sustainability: Agriculture, the Environment and Communities — David L. Brown, et al.

7. Australia’s Energy Transition — John Wiseman