Mineral Resources (MinRes) has revealed a ground-breaking prototype for FIFO resort-style accommodation that will revolutionise the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) lifestyle in the mining industry. The unveiling showcases what employees can expect at the Onslow Iron project, a development underway in the Ashburton region of the Pilbara.
What is the FIFO resort-style accomodation like?
To enhance the living experience for its workforce, MinRes has ordered 750 locally fabricated rooms, each boasting a spacious 45 square meters of living space—three times larger than traditional FIFO accommodations. These apartment-like rooms are designed with employee comfort in mind. They feature a queen-size bed, a separate ensuite, a kitchenette, a lounge area, and a laundry equipped with a washer and dryer. Notably, there is no need for a communal laundry facility.
In addition, each room is equipped with a large-screen television featuring a video call function to enable employees to stay connected with their loved ones. Furthermore, every room will have a balcony furnished with an electric barbecue, allowing individuals to enjoy outdoor relaxation and cooking.
Other features of the rooms include…
The rooms are thoughtfully designed to accommodate both singles and couples, aligning with MinRes’ objective of fostering a more diverse workforce at the Onslow Iron project. The rooms will be arranged in pairs, known as “pods,” connected by walkways and configured in a resort-like manner. The shared gathering spaces and barbecue areas further contribute to the sense of community within the accommodation.
Bronwyn Grieve, Chief People and Shared Services Officer at MinRes, expressed the company’s vision of redefining the FIFO worker experience by creating a home-away-from-home and a genuine community environment. She emphasised the importance of providing high-quality, comfortable, and secure accommodation, highlighting the game-changing nature of these innovative pods. The prototype has garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback from MinRes’ workforce, generating significant interest in job opportunities at the Onslow Iron project.
Construction has recently commenced on the 500-room Ken’s Bore Resort, with further development planned for the second half of the year at the 250-room Onslow Resort, subject to satisfying conditions.
What are the new ammenities?
These resorts, designed by Milieu Creative, the same architecture and design studio responsible for MinRes’ state-of-the-art headquarters in Osborne Park, will offer an array of amenities. These include an Olympic-size swimming pool, an indoor fitness centre and gym, a café serving barista-made coffee, a recreation building with a cinema and golf simulators, multi-purpose sports courts, a mini-golf course, an outdoor fitness park, and a wellness loop with a running track. The resort restaurant will serve an à la carte menu.
MinRes is committed to attracting families to relocate to Onslow and become part of the community. As part of this effort, they are constructing ten four-bedroom homes in the town.
Furthermore, the Onslow Iron project will implement a dust-free mine-to-ship transport solution. The ongoing construction work includes the development of an airport, storage facilities at the Port of Ashburton, and the acquisition of a fleet of transhippers.
Scheduled to commence shipping approximately 35 million tonnes of iron ore per year by mid-2024, the Onslow Iron project is anticipated to generate thousands of jobs during the construction phase. MinRes is currently offering a range of roles, including dozer operators, carpenters, electricians, trades assistants, grader operators, mechanical fitters, crane operators, advanced riggers, boilermakers, and pipefitters. Additionally, opportunities are available in maintenance, corporate compliance, and environmental advisory positions.