❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on BHP Billiton and FMG's employment and housing contributions in Newman and Port Hedland due to mining expansion. The government provides some data and acknowledges confidentiality constraints from BHP.
AnsweredQoN 538Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(2) Has the Minister or any of his portfolio departments or agencies been advised what number of permanent new positions will be based in the towns of Newman and Port Hedland as a result of BHP Billiton’s Rapid Growth Projects 5, and will the Premier table in the House:
(a) the details of those numbers;
(b) details of
the net increase (over and above replacements and refurbishments in the numbers of new residential accommodation houses or housing units) that will be constructed by BHP Billiton to enable the location of these additional full time permanent operational employees in:
(i) Newman; and
(ii) Hedland?
(c) details of the total family residential housing stock owned by BHP Billiton in:
(i) Newman; and
(ii) Hedland?
(d) the number of these houses that are currently occupied by either:
(i) Western Australian
Government agencies;
(ii) non-government community organisations;
(iii) contractors; and
(iv) BHP Billiton employees?
(e) if not, why not?
(3) Has the Minister or any of his portfolio departments and agencies been advised what number of permanent operational positions are based in the Pilbara as a result of Fortescue Metals Group’s (FMG) current iron ore operations, and will the Premier table in the House:
(a) the details of those numbers;
(b) details of
the numbers of residential accommodation houses or housing units that have or will be constructed by or for FMG to enable the location of these operational employees within the Pilbara; and
(c) details of the total family residential housing stock currently owned by FMG in the Pilbara?
(4) If not, why not?
(a) the details of those numbers;
(b) details of
the net increase (over and above replacements and refurbishments in the numbers of new residential accommodation houses or housing units) that will be constructed by BHP Billiton to enable the location of these additional full time permanent operational employees in:
(i) Newman; and
(ii) Hedland?
(c) details of the total family residential housing stock owned by BHP Billiton in:
(i) Newman; and
(ii) Hedland?
(d) the number of these houses that are currently occupied by either:
(i) Western Australian
Government agencies;
(ii) non-government community organisations;
(iii) contractors; and
(iv) BHP Billiton employees?
(e) if not, why not?
(3) Has the Minister or any of his portfolio departments and agencies been advised what number of permanent operational positions are based in the Pilbara as a result of Fortescue Metals Group’s (FMG) current iron ore operations, and will the Premier table in the House:
(a) the details of those numbers;
(b) details of
the numbers of residential accommodation houses or housing units that have or will be constructed by or for FMG to enable the location of these operational employees within the Pilbara; and
(c) details of the total family residential housing stock currently owned by FMG in the Pilbara?
(4) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 April 2009
Responded by
Minister for State Development
Response time
28 days
(1) The Government of Western Australia supports both private and public sector investment in regional housing. This is evidenced by:
- the State's submission to Infrastructure Australia in October 2008 which included Pilbara Housing as a key infrastructure priority focused on implementing innovative housing options, with the State Government to provide the required land (estimated total project cost $500 million); and
- the proposed construction of 134 additional Pilbara houses under the Housing Stimulus Package announced in February 2009.
Investment in regional housing by the resources sector for specific projects is dealt with by the State on a case-by-case basis.
(2a) BHP Billiton IronOrehas advised the Department of State Development that estimates of new permanent employment for Rapid Growth Project 5 (RGP5) are not yet available. The company has indicated that there will be a slight increase in the total operational workforce at both Port Hedland and Newman. The majority of growth in workforce numbers for RGP5 will be at the remote areas of Area C and Yandi.
(2b)(i-ii) BHP Billiton IronOrehas advised the Department of State Development that it has spent approximately $340 million on accommodation programs at Newman and Port Hedland. The accommodation programs include the construction of more than 100 new houses at Port Hedland, almost 300 new houses and units at Newman, and the refurbishment of almost 300 existing houses and units in both towns.
(2c)(i)-(ii) BHP Billiton IronOrehas advised the Department of State Development that details of housing stock owned by the company are not publicly available information due to BHP Billiton's confidentiality requirements.
(2d-e) See answer to part (2c).
(3a) Fortescue Metals Group has advised that 163 permanent operational positions are based in the Pilbara.
(3b) Fortescue Metals Group has advised that it has 138 residential housing units at Port Hedland for operational employees, of which 135 are under lease and 3 have been constructed by FMG.
(3c) The Port Hedland houses are capable of accommodating families.
(4) Not applicable.
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- the State's submission to Infrastructure Australia in October 2008 which included Pilbara Housing as a key infrastructure priority focused on implementing innovative housing options, with the State Government to provide the required land (estimated total project cost $500 million); and
- the proposed construction of 134 additional Pilbara houses under the Housing Stimulus Package announced in February 2009.
Investment in regional housing by the resources sector for specific projects is dealt with by the State on a case-by-case basis.
(2a) BHP Billiton IronOrehas advised the Department of State Development that estimates of new permanent employment for Rapid Growth Project 5 (RGP5) are not yet available. The company has indicated that there will be a slight increase in the total operational workforce at both Port Hedland and Newman. The majority of growth in workforce numbers for RGP5 will be at the remote areas of Area C and Yandi.
(2b)(i-ii) BHP Billiton IronOrehas advised the Department of State Development that it has spent approximately $340 million on accommodation programs at Newman and Port Hedland. The accommodation programs include the construction of more than 100 new houses at Port Hedland, almost 300 new houses and units at Newman, and the refurbishment of almost 300 existing houses and units in both towns.
(2c)(i)-(ii) BHP Billiton IronOrehas advised the Department of State Development that details of housing stock owned by the company are not publicly available information due to BHP Billiton's confidentiality requirements.
(2d-e) See answer to part (2c).
(3a) Fortescue Metals Group has advised that 163 permanent operational positions are based in the Pilbara.
(3b) Fortescue Metals Group has advised that it has 138 residential housing units at Port Hedland for operational employees, of which 135 are under lease and 3 have been constructed by FMG.
(3c) The Port Hedland houses are capable of accommodating families.
(4) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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