Collie Shire Council passed a motion at its meeting last week to ask WALGA to collate, summarise or undertake research on the impacts of fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out working rosters — and the effects such work patterns are having on the mining communities.

It asked that a final report be handed down at next year’s Local Government Week.The report should also include the health effects caused by rotating 24/7, 12-hour shifts, economic impacts on small businesses and rate revenue lost to mining communities from fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out working rosters, the council said.

Council also requested that the report assess the social and cultural impacts of working rosters on sporting clubs and community groups as well as families.

Councillor Mark Pianta moved the motion.He said sporting clubs and community groups had suffered from 24/7, 12-hour rosters.

“Communities are suffering, including ours,” he said.