Port Hedland: Resort Village Coming for the Workers

Port Hedland isn't the sort of spot you'd choose for your next holiday. Its remote, hot for 1/2 the year, cold for the rest and dusty. Oh and its just one large industrial port for the iron ore from the Pilbara. It probably won't look anything like this one though.

But a $100 million resort-style village is being planned for Port Hedland - in an attempt to solve the accommodation shortage in Hedland and add beds for 1200 workers. Catering and facilities management group Compass is keen to begin construction before Christmas on an accommodation complex to be build on 12ha which is adjacent to the Port Hedland airport. To super-village will not only include individual single rooms with en-suite but also a swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, cinema, lawn bowls and an indoor cricket pitch.

The main employers in town include the mining giants of BHP-Biliton and Fortescue Metals Group. The companies have advised the local council tha an extra 3000 workers will be needed in town by the middle of next year - and at the moment there are no vacancies in town :and that includes the campgrounds. Poor quality of accommodation does not cut it for workers who are doing 12 hour shifts in a climate where shade temperatures over 50C are not uncommon for months over summer. Its even more difficult for the raft of smaller companies who provide services to the big employers such as catering and maintenance, who also have to accommodate their workers who may not be be on the 6-figure salaries paid by the big miners.

For anyone who is tempted to head north on the chance of a well-paid job: there is every chance of the job: just make sure you have your accommodation sorted out. Rents of over $1000/week for ordinary houses in Hedland are not uncommon.

Sanctuary Cove Queensland