A Queensland mining camp that can house up to 3,000 fly-in, fly-out workers is being investigated by a local council after it received complaints of mould and poor food handling practices.
Isaac Regional Council said it was examining two complaints about accommodation and food services at the Civeo Coppabella Village, south-west of Mackay, in May and July.
But a council spokesperson told the ABC it had so far received “limited information” from international workforce accommodation provider Civeo.
Cyrus Vudrag says he found black mould in his bathroom at the Civeo Coppabella Village. (Supplied: Cyrus Vudrag)
They said the council was “seeking further clarification” on a range of issues, including food handling, cleaning, pest management, laundry operations and mould and moisture management.
Cairns miner Cyrus Vudrag said he had made a separate complaint about what he believed were hygiene issues at the camp to his employer in November.
Cyrus Vudrag works at a coal mine near the Coppabella camp. (Supplied: Cyrus Vudrag)
Mr Vudrag said, like many workers, the camp was a home away from home because he lived there for nine days of every fortnight.
He said while many miners worked 12-hour shifts which made cleaning difficult, he now brought his own cleaning equipment to the camp.
“I’m afraid to look under the bed,” he said.
“There’s mould that’s in the rooms, and the condition of the bathrooms … there’s no drains in the floor ways.”
A patch of what appears to be black mould behind a sink in a Civeo Coppabella Village room. (Supplied: Cyrus Vudrag)
On its website, Civeo said it provided housekeeping and janitorial services in guest rooms along with laundry services including linen inspection and replacement.
Letter of complaint
In a letter to his employer, Mr Vudrag said he wanted Civeo to add a hand-washing station in the camp’s food hall.
He said he wanted the camp to ensure that mine workers washed their hands before using shared utensils in the communal dining rooms.
The Civeo Coppabella Village serves meals at Zest, a buffet-style eatery. (ABC Tropical North: Liam O’Connell)
Mr Vudrag said he had fallen sick with gastrointestinal viruses several times since he began living at the camp in 2022.
“It is a serious fatigue management and health issue that needs to be addressed,” he said.
He said he felt illnesses that could come about because of hygiene practices could impact safety on mine sites.
He also raised concerns about mould in living spaces and instances of cleaning staff entering rooms without prior notice.
Civeo investigates claims
Mr Vudrag said he had been approached by Civeo Coppabella Camp management after the letter.
He said they thanked him for his letter and advised that they would be looking for solutions to his concerns.
The Civeo Coppabella Village has more than 3,000 ensuite rooms. (ABC Tropical North: Liam O’Connell)
The ABC has been contacted by other residents about conditions at the camp but many chose not to speak publicly due to concerns about potential repercussions from their employers or the camp.
Mr Vudrag said he was speaking publicly to improve conditions at the camp.
“Everyone’s got to take accountability,” he said.
“The occupants of the camp … they have to speak up.
“[The] squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
Civeo also operates a village in Moranbah, about 50 kilometres from Coppabella. (ABC Tropical North: Liam O’Connell)
In response to questions about the Mr Vudrag’s claims, Civeo said it maintained “robust accommodation, food safety, housekeeping and maintenance processes across all villages”.
The company said in a statement that it encouraged any residents with complaints to contact their onsite village manager.
Civeo also said it was not aware of an investigation by Isaac Regional Council or “any associated investigations by any regulatory body” and that it had not been aware of any other claims from thousands of guests that stayed at its villages.
