With the correct subsidies and facilities places like Tom Price and Newman do/can and will thrive.
Yes and even Telfer was once a little town. Not every body wants to live on the beach. I for one dont like the beech. I much prefer the fresh water and landscape the Pilbra and Kimberely have to offer. Its tust that they dont have the (aviation) jobs I am after.
Queensland is not as reliant on FIFO as WA and they have some very big towns based around mining.