Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) will invest $100 million in providing more fly-in fly-out (FIFO) accommodation in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Rio plans to construct a further 500 homes for regional frontline FIFO workers in Karratha, Broome, Geraldton, Albany, Wickham, Tom Price, Paraburdoo, and Roebourne.
State government employees will also use the properties to serve regional communities through the Government Regional Officer Housing Program.
The multinational resources producer is the largest private sector contributor to the state government’s Seven Cities Vision for regional WA. The plan aims to construct new homes before 2030.
“Rio Tinto has a long and deep connection to regional WA, directly supporting six towns across the Pilbara and, through our FIFO program, providing employment and economic activity to a further six communities, from the Kimberley to the Great Southern,” Rio Iron Ore CEO Matthew Holcz says.
“To seize the big job-creating projects in front of us in Karratha and Port Hedland, we need to continue to invest in economic infrastructure and expand their roles as hubs providing quality services to the towns and remote communities within the Pilbara,” state Premier Roger Cook says.
“I commend and thank Rio Tinto, BHP (ASX:BHP), and Hancock Prospecting for partnering with my government on this … housing build, to support the delivery of better services in the communities in which they operate.”
The company has already approved a combined $250 million in funding for the state Resources Community Investment Initiative. This is the second project the program has delivered, following the Paraburdoo hospital redevelopment.
Rio Tinto is a copper, iron ore, aluminium, and other minerals explorer, developer, producer, and processor with assets around the world.
Write to Richard Szabo at Mining.com.au
Images: Rio Tinto
