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 2 to June 9. WA welcomes a new Premier Roger Cook this week became WA’s 31st Premier, taking over from Mark McGowan after more than six years as Deputy Premier. The new Premier will be a familiar face to many in the Pilbara, through the variety of Cabinet posts he has held - most recently as Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade; Hydrogen Industry; Tourism; Science.
Roger has taken a close interest in the work being done to make the Pilbara a Hydrogen Hub and he was up in Karratha in recent months for the breaking of ground on Perdaman’s Urea Plant.
RDA Pilbara looks forward to the productive relationship with Roger and his office continuing and we hope to see him up in our region again soon.
Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston takes on the Hydrogen Industry portfolio, while a newcomer to the Cabinet in David Michael is now the Minister for Ports and Local Government.
Roebourne’s new TAFE facilities set to be a hit
RDA Pilbara CEO Tony Simpson enjoyed the chance to attend the official opening of new facilities at North Regional TAFE’s Minurmarghali Mia (Roebourne) campus.
The $7.9 million project is a significant investment in our region’s educational capabilities and the facilities will help connect the local Aboriginal community to vocational education and training opportunities. In addition to four new classrooms, the campus now has a range of vibrant, community-focussed and culturally appropriate spaces - including outdoor learning areas.
You can read more about the upgrades here: https://bit.ly/3MUxEow
headspace officially opens its space
Great to see headspace Karratha officially opening its centre on Thursday June 8, with a community event featuring live musical from local youth, carnival food, a barbecue and more.
Karratha is headspace’s 150th centre in Australia, offering a youth friendly space to help young people aged 12-25 with their health and well-being goals.
RDA Pilbara is sponsoring student ambassador Elise Murray in the Push-up Challenge, raising funds and awareness for youth mental health in Australia. Tony was delighted to catch up with Elise at the opening to hear how she was going in her quest to complete 3144 push-ups in the first 23 days of June.
Major miners announce new Pilbara plans
A couple of significant announcements over the past week from two of the region’s biggest iron ore miners.
BHP will partner with family support service provider Wanslea on a program that it hopes will encourage local family daycare educators to become family day care providers, by transforming their homes to accommodate expanded childcare services.
Grants of $5000 will be awarded and BHP will make several of its houses available for the initiative, which aims to help alleviate the critical shortage of childcare services in the Pilbara.
You can read more here: https://bit.ly/3NmgdP8
Rio Tinto was also in the news over the past week with its plans to invest $395 million in a seawater desalination plant in the Pilbara, Western Australia, to support future water supply for the company’s coastal operations and communities in the region.
If approved, the Dampier Seawater Desalination Plant will support up to 300 jobs during construction.
Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Cn3zsN
Global mining focus turns to Karratha
There’s now less than two weeks to go until the 4th OECD Meeting of Mining Regions and Cities, to be held at the Red Earth Arts Precinct from June 20-23. It’s a feather in the region’s cap to have international delegates coming to our region to discuss diversification, green value chains and liveable and sustainable mining communities. City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long penned a great column on the event in the Pilbara News: https://bit.ly/42qMzMV You can learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/3qAserd
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