Hi, Tracy Ds friend here with the empty house in Kambalda! Not to concerned about the vacancy at this stage based on the following.

Two large mine expansions are in progress in Kambalda at present. Goldfields Gold are employing people at a huge rate. Consolidated Minerals advertised in Saturdays West Australian Newspaper. Apparently between 300-400 jobs will be created by the end of 2006.
There are 1200 houses in Kambalda and about 60 of them are vacant rentals. If they create only half of the jobs expected then these 60 houses will be very crowded even allowing for “fly in fly out”. Mines are offering 5 years contracts to execs and some are coming from overseas. I can’t see the mining companies offering long term employment contracts on a whim – surely.

Nothing is certain and all investment is a risk to some degree. Considering your out of pocket outlay of merely a few thousand dollars I think it is worth the risk for the potential capital growth in the next five years.

Only time will tell!