The residents of a tiny central Queensland mining town struggled to contain their emotions in the gallery of state parliament as a decision about their future was made.

Families have been moving and businesses have been closing in Glenden since the Newlands mine the town was built to service reached the end of its life.

A plan to house workers onsite for a new project nearby, rather than accommodating them in Glenden, would have spelt the end for Glenden, which is home to less than 500 people.

But after years of uncertainty their future has been secured at the 11th hour by the state government, which has legislated that workers on a large coal mining project must live in the town.

"Sitting there listening to parliament debating about a town that many of them wouldn't know … they were debating on something vitally important to save this community," long-term resident Milissa Payne said.

"Our fight was about Glenden, but the fight is about every rural and resource community that are going to face a similar thing in the future.

"It means everything … the town has slowly shrunk, but hopefully we can breathe life back into the community.

'Been on life support'

Isaac mayor Anne Baker said the last few weeks had been for her and the community.

"It's a very proud moment to have the voice of this community heard," she said.

"The community has been on life support and there's been a lot of anxiety and people nervous about their future.

Cr Baker was in parliament this week to see the new laws passed.

"When you sit in parliament you're not allowed to clap, you're not allowed to make much noise," she said.

"We did a bit of that, but we didn't get ejected."

Under the laws, the operators of the Byerwen Mine are required to transition the workforce from the onsite camp to the town, starting in 2025.

By the end of 2029 all workers will be housed in the town.

Resources minister Scott Stewart travelled to Glenden on Friday to meet with residents.

"It creates certainty for the $1-billion Byerwen project so they can continue to operate," he said.

Mr Stewart said Glenden would be home to up to 1,000 workers during the peak production period.

Unanswered questions

Burdekin MP Dale Last supported the amendement and said it was a "hell of a way to get a result", but there were still a lot of questions about the transition.

"They need to have 10 per cent housed in Glenden by March 2026 — that's three years away," he said.

"There's questions about the operation of the town, maintenance of the homes … it remains to be seen how it all rolls out."

Mr Last said he hoped the laws would serve as a catalyst to ensure better planning for other resource towns.

"The government should be sitting down with companies and councils and getting an idea of the future — what's the plan when mines close down?

"This relates to all of Queensland and there needs to be a discussion."

For Ms Payne the parliamentary outcome is just the beginning.

"We've gotten this across the line, but it's not over," she said.

"We've got questions and we've got things we want to see achieved.