ACT

This is the time of the year when organisations start their recruitment programs for Vacation Work (for under-graduate university students) and Apprenticeships. 

Those of you who read our last blog would know that much work has been done in and around our operation, and since our last post I am pleased to say we have made even more progress. Many exciting developments have happened at our Sino Iron Project in the past month and we have reached a number of significant milestones for our project.

This is the question we get asked the most. Eight simple words with one very complex answer.

Simply, there is no ‘one size fits all’ response. When callers to The Resource Channel ask this question, we could be forgiven for responding with “we’ll tell you how, if you can tell us how to achieve world peace”. Okay, might sound a tad melodramatic, but you’ll get the idea that it’s somewhat of a tough question to answer.

With 61,500 new operational jobs expected in the mining sector alone by 2015, as well as tens of thousands more in the construction stages (according to estimates released in the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce report in July 2010), the industry is facing a skills shortage that far exceeds that experienced in the five years preceding 2008.  

The following are key projects either underway or due to commence in Western Australia. 

BALMORAL SOUTH

Operators: Australasian Resources

Cost:  $3bn

Location:    Just south of Karratha

Timeframe:     2 year construction timeframe from commencement

Employment:  Unknown

The following are key projects either underway or due to commence in Western Australia.

RAPID GROWTH PROJECT 6

Operators:  BHP Billiton

Location:  Pilbara

Timeframe:     2 years, increased output achieved by 2013

The following are key projects either underway or due to commence in Queensland.

ALPHA COAL PROJECT

Operators: Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd

Location: Galilee Basin

Timeframe:   Construction due to commence in 2012 with first shipment for 2014

Cost:  $7.5b

Employment: 2,500 construction jobs and 1,600 permanent jobs

The following are key projects either underway or due to commence in New South Wales and South Australia.

OLYMPIC DAM, South Australia

Operators: BHP Billiton

Cost:  $1.04 trillion

Location:    Roxby Downs

Timeframe:      Stage 1: 2016, Stage 2: 2018, Stage 3: 2021

WPG Resources Ltd were pleased to announce that the South Australian government has approved the Mining and Rehabilitation Program (MARP) for the Company’s flagship DSO iron ore mine south east of Coober Pedy, and has also approved the Company’s Development Application (DA) for the iron ore receival, storage and export facility to be built at Port Pirie.

The approvals mean that WPG can now move to the project construction phase.  Site works at the mine and port will commence on Monday 18 July 2011.

At HWE Iron Ore, we are proud to be celebrating NAIDOC Week 2011.  We have organised various events that will give all our employees an opportunity to experience the vibrant culture of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues.

On Monday, we kicked off NAIDOC Week with Richard Walley, the 2010 Indigenous Leader of the Year. Richard performed a traditional welcome to country, flag raising ceremony and Aboriginal dance performance.