Oh for sure Teagz! In some areas there is nothing BUT the mine and it is very hard to live there as a family. There is also a lot of hard living that can go hand in hand with it because on your days off there is often nothing to do but drink, especially in really remote outposts that only does FIFO. Another thing I forgot is if you do decide to relocate to be closer to the mine where he intends to work, in a mining town everything is dearer - rent, food, house prices if you want to buy. Within 6 months of the mine my DH works at becomming operational rents skyrocketed and a 3 bedroom house you used to pay only $140-$150 a week for jumped up to $300-odd.
ummm I have to disagree we live in a mining town, my hubby doesn't work for the mine though, we have a IGA and for everyday items its not that much dearer than woolies, maybe not as much variety but certainly not extravagantly expensive, yes rent can be dear but lots of mining towns have subsidised rent for their workers...some friends of mine were renting a house thru the mine and oaying $40 a week rent ... over the 9 1/2 yrs we have been here yes the housing prices have risen but its still cheaper than say rocky or gladstone which are 2 hrs away and our closest I suppose major towns...

one thing I love about our town is the closeness ... every one knows everyone which is good and bad... I dont thinki I would like FIFO option but if you were moving to the town then it would be great generallyt he money is good a lot of people here have property on the coast and spend their days off there

HTH