It has been named Queensland's friendliest and tidiest town, but the residents and pristine streets of Cloncurry, in the state's north-west, have not been enough to entice workers out to the small community.
For three years, the prominent mining and farming hub has tried and failed to recruit a childcare teacher to the council's early learning centre.
Neither the promise of a new $6 million facility nor a $150,000 salary package has been enough to prompt any applications for the role.
The community is running out of time, local leaders say.
"Legislation brought in a few years ago states we must have a childcare teacher at our facility, and after being granted an exemption from that, we are now having the foot brought down on this," Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell said.
"If we don't get a teacher soon we will have to apply for yet another exemption.
"We've been really struggling to get not just the right person but any person to apply for the position."
Cr Campbell said kids were also missing out on learning programs that could only be delivered by an early learning teacher.
Critical mining, farming community on the line
Serving 58 children, with a further 34 on the waitlist, the childcare centre supports parents working in the critical minerals mining, farming, health and transport sectors.
"This centre supports one of the richest mining regions in the country," Cr Campbell said.
"At least 25 per cent of the people employed in the Cloncurry shire are employed in mining critical minerals — copper, zinc, gold, all those critical minerals that the state, the country, the world needs on the path to decarbonisation.
"Having a daycare and childcare centre is crucial to those jobs and to the future of the town," he said.
Offer failing to entice
A salary of more than $100,000 plus superannuation as well as free accommodation and relocation payments have failed to lure even a single application to the role, Cr Campbell said.
That is despite the council encouraging graduates to apply.
"It's an offer of about $150,000 all up, which should be a pretty awesome offer for someone straight out of university," Cr Campbell said.
"Not to mention the opportunity to teach young minds in the legendary Queensland Outback, surrounded by a team of supportive staff."
Cr Campbell said that in a world where skills shortages were impacting everyone, especially the childcare industry, the outback had a lot to offer.
"We know we're not alone with this issue, but we really do think the location and the culture out here are a huge point of difference," he said.
"So, come to Cloncurry. The kids are here, and the country is spectacular."
