Each week, RDA Pilbara compiles a weekly wrap of news that's important to industries and communities in the region and also the highlights of our activities on the ground.
Read on for what's been happening from June 30 to July 7.
WA forges Indonesia critical minerals partnership
Great to see WA and Premier Roger Cook announcing closer ties this week with Indonedsia around the critical minerals and battery industries.
There are natural synergies in the journeys WA and Indonesia are taking in relation to these future-facing areas and building supply chains with Asia will help unlock new opportunities for the WA mining and resources sector, including right here in the Pilbara
Read more: https://bit.ly/44wjXTL
Bringing visitors up to speed on the Pilbara Alongside Town of Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter, RDA Pilbara CEO Tony Simpson took the opportunity this week to brief a visiting delegation on our region's significant economic contributions, ever-growing range of industries and vibrant communities.
Alex Phan, Louis Su and Elizabeth Long are part of the Kailian Group, which has strong links with Vietnam and also an Australian presence, offering a wide range of services including international education and migration.
Regional grants galore A couple of significant grant-related announcements this week, including one from WA Minister for Regional Development Don Punch about Pilbara local governments sharing in $2 million in funding.
Recipients (and related projects) are:
▪ Shire of Ashburton - new local planning scheme and strategy
▪ Shire of East Pilbara - new local planning scheme
▪ City of Karratha - coastal hazard risk management and adaptation planning; bushfire hazard level assessment
▪ Town of Port Hedland - public open space strategy review.
Congratulations to the successful parties, we look forward to seeing the outcomes of these grants.
Read more: https://bit.ly/46F7S0w
Meanwhile, the Australian Department of Transport, Infrastructure, Regional Development and Communiciations announced the Growing Regions program was open for business - offering grants between $500,000 and $15 million to local government entities and not-for-profit organisations, for building or upgrading community infrastructure.
Examples could include:
▪ libraries
▪ museums
▪ galleries
Round 1 of the program closes on 1 August 2023.
Find out more and read about eligibility requirements: https://lnkd.in/gN5Z_r4w
NAIDOC Week celebrated around the Pilbara NAIDOC Week 2023 continues until Sunday July 9, with many organisations and individuals taking time this week to acknowledge the extremely significant contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people make to our country.
This year's theme was "For Our Elders", a reflection on the cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors and leaders who have paved the way for future generations to take their own paths.
WA's best regional steak sandwich is in the Pilbara (again!) Can't believe we missed this piece of news last week but it's so tasty (excuse the pun) that we figured it's worth running now!
Congratulations to Karratha's North West Brewing Co., which last week was awarded the Australian Hotels Association (WA) Best Country Steak Sandwich for the second year in a row.
The creation prepared by head chef Ats Johanssen featured smoked Harvey beef, smoked brisket, salsa verde, bacon, jalapenos, cream cheese, and pickles marinated in the brewery’s Pilbara Pale Ale.
Cooking lunch for the Premier has to be pretty nerve-wracking but the North West team clearly passed the test with flying colours.
Local news stories that caught our eye A few stories from the Pilbara News popped up in our radar this week, including Dampier-raised friends Mahli Beardman and Josh Vernon earning rookie contracts with the WA Cricket Association.
Who knows, one day we might see both of them on the Ashes stage? Read more: https://bit.ly/3PLPwVr
There was also an interesting story this week about minimum security prisoners from the Roebourne Work Camp monitoring the growth and mortality rates of black-lip oysters in an attempt to make the species of restaurant quality and size.
The project has been funded by both State and Federal governments and involves oyster farms in Dampier and Cossack. Read more: https://bit.ly/44eleyW
Lastly, fantastic to see kids from Tambrey Primary, Baynton West Primary, and the Roebourne Learning Centre heading to Wickham Primary School for the Pilbara's Robocup.
Robotics and STEM are integral to many industries, including mining and resources, and their influence is only going to grow in years to come. Read more: https://bit.ly/43bC1Bv
A bit of rain can't stop the running man Another update on Guy Schweitzer, director of MGN Civil (which is involved in the Spoilbank Marina project) and his quest to run from Port Hedland to Brisbane.
Wet weather forced Guy to re-route his journey out of Alice Springs but the good news is that conditions have fined (and warmed) up, Guy has passed the 2000km-mark and been reunited with this support team, and the Queensland border is within sight (perhaps not literally, but at least by signage). He even found time to muster some cattle!
We'll continue to update our Facebook with the latest on Guy every Friday. You can also follow him at Home Run: https://bit.ly/3OYzzLo
