I remember when I was in the Pilbara back in 2000. I visited Paraburdoo which is a town built by a mining company - near Tom Price. It was basically closed down with just a a few people living there, I'd be surprised if more than 100 by the look of it, possibly half that. Brick houses, curb and gutters, a neat little town built back in the 70's which seemed to be maintained, but no one there, basically a ghost town including tumble weeds and cockatoos stained iron ore red. The mining company had no use for it at the time as I understand it. Today it is probably back in full use.
I mining company can close down its own town when it has no use for it and does not affect anyone else other than food suppliers etc, but mix private housing with mining company properties like Moronbah and who gets left holding the baby when the plug is pulled!! They already started building more of their own properties so that they would not be held to ransom on rentals by private investors, and many new investment houses were sitting empty after completion when I was there.