Possibly in response to slowdowns in their local building industries, and a need for construction workers to look elsewhere for work, the Gold Coast and Cairns are emerging as hubs for fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) mine workers:

Terminal deal cut for fly-in, fly-out miners

Support for fly-in, fly-out families in Far North

Of course, this may also have something to do with the enviable lifestyles available in these centres and property prices in Brisbane and other capital cities that are increasingly unaffordable for many.