Abstract: The boom-bust cycles within resources industries in Australia make it difficult to plan for the sustainable development of workforce locations in regional communities. A variety of logistical, financial and lifestyle factors are contributing to an increased use of non-resident workforce for both short and long term construction, operational and maintenance, raising a number of issues about the sustainability of mining village accommodation and development that this encourages. Forward planning to meet the needs of resource industries and their workforce requires knowledge of accommodation alternatives and preferences, especially when seeking to attract skilled professionals to regional areas. This requires consideration of factors beyond the simple utility of temporary worker accommodation. Planning for a sustainable mining future involves consideration of the liveability of mining villages and the preferences of mining workers for appropriate accommodation. This paper will explore these issues and draw upon a recent survey of mining villages in the Bowen Basin region to shed light on three significant issues for non-resident workforces; location choices, accommodation choices, and the impact of these on regional economic and social development within the resources sector in regional Australia. This paper examines three significant issues regarding non-resident workforces in the mining sector. The first issue regards the location choices of non-resident workers; identifying if it is only housing availability and cost that stops them from locating in mining towns close to work. The second issue looks at the liveability of mining villages and how the current living conditions of the mining villages can be improved. The third section of the paper looks at the regional impact of mining villages in terms of economic and social development of the region, particularly considering the degree to which mining villages should be fully or partially integrated with the nearest regional service centre, regional hub or regional city.