A 500-room workforce camp built to house Mineral Resources’ Onslow Iron mine workforce has been unveiled, promising premium facilities in an effort to attract and retain staff.
A 500-room workforce camp built to house Mineral Resources’ Onslow Iron mine workforce has been unveiled, promising premium facilities in an effort to attract and retain staff.
Described by one bureaucrat-turned-dump truck driver as the “Club Med” of the Pilbara and another worker as ‘like being in Broome’, The $140m Mungala Resort is the latest effort by a WA miner to lure workers with high-spec accommodation and health and wellness offerings.
Mungala is the Robe River Kuruma word for Red Hill, a nearby landmark in the area.
The camp features rooms three times the size of a traditional donga, a 50-metre swimming pool, mini-golf course, in-house catering, and is serviced by a team of mental health counsellors.
The rooms feature queen beds, washing and drying machines, kitchenette, blackout blinds, and large TVs. The design of the suites has enabled 23 couples to live together on site.
It serves as a home away from home for the fly-in, fly-out workforce at the Ken’s Bore mine 55 kilometres south of Pannawonica, from which iron ore is hauled to Onslow for export.
Mineral Resources director of people Andrea Chapman said the facilities enabled a cultural shift to occur in the mining industry.
“Most people on mine sites work really long hours, often in really tough conditions, and we are really proud that this represents a different experience for people,” she said.
“When you've got a safe and inviting environment, it also leads to much better mental health outcomes and greater productivity for our people.
“It is a significant investment, it is very costly, but we had the benefit here at Onslow [Iron] that it was a greenfield operation, so when you're able to start something from the beginning, everything is achievable.”
Ms Chapman said Mineral Resources was upgrading all of its long-life camps.
Busselton resident Lisa Vines, who ditched a three-decade public sector career for mining in her 50s, said the accommodation had set the bar high.
“It is the Club Med of the Pilbara, if not Australia,” she said.
“Best decision I have made [to change careers], only wish I had made it sooner.”
The camp and mine sit on Robe River Kuruma ngurra (country) and on Thursday night will host traditional owners for a two-day board meeting.
Mineral Resources on Thursday announced two new joint ventures with the Robe River Kuruma people to provide mining services and aviation services.
Kuruma business Jaliyarnu Yinta is responsible for landscaping maintenance at the resort.
Jaliyarnu Yinta owner Georgina Bobby said she had plenty of support from her family and Mineral Resources to establish her landscaping business.
“It is going to be a sustainable business for the future, you know, for my kids, my grandchildren who want to come and work here,” she said.
“I reckon this place is awesome. Looks awesome.”
Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison said the resort offered lasting recognition of the relationship between the company and traditional owners.
