Work will resume at a mineral sands project in Western Australia’s far north, following a longer-than-usual wet season.
The WA Government has approved the resumption of early works on the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project, located between Broome and Derby on WA’s Dampier Peninsula.
Sheffield Resources said on May 2 the early works will provide improved road access to the project site, construction water, and a permanent 60-person accommodation village, which will align with the company’s pledge to not rely heavily on a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce.
The company says 280 people will be employed at the mine by its fifth year of operations, with the bulk of that being local workers.
Kimberley-based contractor McCorry Brown Earthmoving is working on the site, ahead of geotechnical site investigation activities.
“Sheffield’s Thunderbird project is good for local businesses that have the knowledge, flexibility, capability and economics to win the work,” McCorry Brown business manager Kodee Brown said.
“We have been established in Broome for more than 29 years, have sound experience within our region, and are delighted to be one of the first local cabs off the rank.”
Sheffield says it is relying on several local businesses during the early works, and is conducting a detailed tender process for the installation of the permanent 60-room accommodation village.
GR Engineering Services has been appointed as the preferred tenderer for the mine’s processing plant and facilities engineering, procurement and construction contract.
Sheffield says Thunderbird contains the world’s largest and highest-grade undeveloped reserves of zircon and ilmenite.