China-fuelled mining boom a double edged sword for Queensland

Some of the flashiest vehicles travelling the roads of this laid-back, subtropical Australian city are owned by "tradies" - carpenters, builders, electricians and plumbers - whose salaries sometimes rival those of lawyers and doctors.

In their shiny new "utes", they have been indirect beneficiaries of a China-fuelled mining boom, with the rising salaries of those in mining-related jobs buoying house construction and renovation in the city, the capital of the state of Queensland.

And if the tradies tire of life in the city there is often bigger money awaiting them at the various mining projects dotted around the state, where even truck drivers command six-figure salaries.

Annual exports to the mainland from Queensland - a resource-rich state of 4.6 million people - have skyrocketed from A$1 billion (HK$7.1 billion) to A$9.3 billion over the past decade, making it the state's biggest trading partner. Almost half of all exports are mining commodities, including coal and minerals.

But while Brisbane - a city of two million on the banks of a flood-prone river - is preparing to host the G20 Summit this November, others are worried whether the reliance on Chinese and other foreign mining trade and investment is a poisoned chalice for Queensland, economically and environmentally.

Chinese investment in the Australian mining sector this year is set to reach the highest level since 2011, when the mainland poured in A$11.7 billion. Major mainland investments in recent years in Queensland include Yanzhou Coal's A$3.5 billion purchase of Felix Resources in 2009 and CNOOC's agreement with BG Group to invest A$1.93 billion in the QCLNG gas project in 2012.

In May, Guangdong Rising Assets Management offered A$1.46 billion for Brisbane-based miner Pan-Aust.