Content in Karratha

A lot of people complain about Karratha. Their mouths permanently downturned, acid on their tongues, they moan that there is nothing to do here, that it is a desolate town of red dirt with nowhere decent to shop, nowhere nice to eat, and nothing to distract them from the monotony of their existence but beer. I understand that it must be hard for the guys that come out here on their own and are put in a camp with just a small room and perhaps a basic kitchenette to call their own. Of course, they do get paid handsomely for the sacrifices they make to work here and are often on pretty generous leave cycles (I think even I could put up with long hours and a small living space if I was working two weeks on, one week off as are some of the contractors here). Ironically though, it is the frequent leave that contributes to their general feeling of loneliness and unhappiness. How could anyone ever feel settled if every few weeks they’re off somewhere else? You’d be constantly thinking about your next holiday, your mind would always be in another country, and not in Karratha. I’m not for a moment suggesting that these leave cycles should be changed – if I lived in a box and ate every meal in a canteen I’d need frequent escape too, and there’s no way you could ever feel settled in those circumstances – but it all contributes to the feeling of unhappy transience many workers here feel. I think the reason that The Husband and I are actually quite happy here (apart from the obvious fact that we are together) is that, living in a house with a garden and a having a bit of essential personal space, we feel more settled than others. We're trying to make a life for ourselves here, even if it is only for a year or so. 


And that is presumably why the following is happening. The State Government’s fervent desire to develop the Pilbara, the treasure chest of the country, has prompted a long-overdue facelift for Karratha, in its bid to transform the town into a major regional city. This will include building affordable housing, more shops and services and putting a bit of sparkle into the town, with the idea that this will encourage couples and families to move here together and not just for a year or two but to settle here permanently. I’m not sure how many people actually want to settle in as remote a destination as Karratha, but I suppose some people like the open emptiness, the ability to drive out and be on your own within minutes. What no-one likes is the cost of living in Karratha – everything from food, to clothes, to housing is eye-wateringly expensive and that leaves a sour taste in everyone’s mouths. Whether that will ever change remains to be seen (I doubt it will – the high salaries here spark higher costs of living) but if the government really can transform Karratha into somewhere people actually want to live, maybe more people will be able to stop scowling and enjoy what the area does have to offer. Beaches, crystal-clear water teaming with marine life, wonderful weather, two world-class national parks offering spectacular hiking, fishing in the rivers and out on the open sea. Coming from England, just the ability to have an outdoor lifestyle is wonderful and, despite what all the moaners may say, that is something all us Brits will miss when we leave. Try smiling - remember, unhapiness begets unhapiness.