Was in Alpha, Emerald, Capella, Dysart, Moranbah and Mackay last week for a couple of days, it was my first time back in the area for a little over 18 months and noticed a bit of movement in certain areas. Also drove through Wandoan, Miles, Chinchilla, Dalby etc. Will jot a few observations down below.
Alpha mines have started to transport coal - by road, which makes it VERY difficult to overtake annoying coal trucks on rubbish roads without an overtaking lane for 300kms... Whinge aside, I noticed a dozen or so new houses in Alpha, and work was being done on the airport. Not sure how/when/if the rail system will be sorted, I think a few hurdles to be crossed first. Belyando river floodplains might cause a few headaches.
Emerald is back humming again. Lots more developments popping up everywhere, Coles is back open after the floods and the new Bunnings/Big W is popping up quickly. Mate in real estate says sales are still happening, was slow for a while, but rolling along well now.
Didn't notice a heap of changes to Dysart and Capella. Peak Downs was pumping and looks to have expanded, but maybe I'd never really looked at how big it was in the past?
Moranbah was rolling along well. Plenty of new developments popping up everywhere. New shops in the Town Square and motels, as usual, were pretty full. Dyno plant was up and running and a fair bit of development happening around the Moranbah North mine area and further along Goonyella Rd.
Mackay was busy. Heaps more mines/infrastructure going in/up and running between M'bah and Mackay. MAC camp looks like it even bigger than last time I drove past. Saw the turn off to Daunia, would be good fun to fly over and check out all of the destruction, oops, sorry, development. Rentals in Mackay look to be still quite tight and rents are high.
Driving south, it was good to check out Rocky again and the drive through Mt Morgan to Tarooom etc was good. Plenty of relocatable dongas on the road; I think we counted 14 road trains all up.
Surat Basin area was busy as well. Plenty more mine vehicles and drilling rig signs around the place. Noticed a few more developments popping up here and there and talking to my agents in the area, rentals are starting to move again.
Not really answering all of your questions, but may give you a bit of an idea!