Key State Government infrastructure and industry collaboration is delivering jobs and local supply contracts as BHP reaches the halfway mark of building its $4.88 billion South Flank iron ore project.
Premier Mark McGowan today visited the Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility (AMCCUF) in Henderson where local steel fabricators and other suppliers are manufacturing world-leading mining infrastructure for the mine.
The South Flank project is estimated to create about 2,500 construction jobs and more than 600 operational jobs during the mine's 25-year life.
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (Australia) have designed and are building the world's largest rail-mounted reclaimer as well as stackers - used to load and unload iron ore - each with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes an hour.
Last weekend AGC delivered the portal frame for the reclaimer - the widest and heaviest load transported in the metropolitan area at 15 metres wide and almost 250 tonnes.
Next door to the facility, Civmec is assembling 23 'smart modules' including conveyor shuttle and train loadout and feeder modules, a contract that has created an estimated 80 construction jobs alone, and in nearby Naval Base, Pacific Industrial Company has been awarded a contract to manufacture the reclaimer boom, tripper conveyor and equipment platform.
Through the AMCCUF, the State Government is providing the large-scale industrial infrastructure required to secure local fabricators jobs on major resource projects such as South Flank.
The project is one of the world's biggest iron ore operations, already integrating the latest advances in autonomous-ready fleets, autonomous blast hole drills, digital connectivity and module builds to allow components to be built remotely and transported to the Pilbara.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Collaboration between the AMC Common User Facility and contractors working on BHP's $4.88 billion South Flank is leading to jobs in Perth and the Pilbara region.
"The companies involved in the design and manufacture of this world-class equipment at Henderson, Naval Base and elsewhere in the State show what WA companies are capable of in delivering innovation and to global standards.
"The State Government is working with both the iron ore industry and its supply chain in identifying, and taking advantage of, international market and business development trends.
"In this regard, my Steel Fabrication Roundtable initiative has an important and timely role to play in managing change with a minimum of discomfort and a maximum of benefit.
"I understand there's also been a big increase in the employment of women and Aboriginal people in the South Flank operational workforce which is another outstanding outcome."
