Diploma wins $49m Rio contract

Belmont-based Diploma Construction has won a $49 million to expand Rio Tinto’s Wickham accommodation base in the Pilbara.

The company has been contracted to design and construct a fly-in fly-out base consisting of 198 one-person rooms with associated services and infrastructure.

The Wickham FIFO camp is part of Rio Tinto’s $300 million investment in the town, which also includes constructing a subdivision of 212 new dwellings and an administration and training centre.

Diploma Group chief executive said Diploma was “delighted” to be awarded the contract, which boosted its current order book to $346 million to be completed over the next 24 months.

Diploma also won a contract worth $44 million in July to build the Rocklea Palms FIFO project in Paraburdoo involving 244 rooms.

The first stage of the Wickham contract will begin immediately with a plan for completion in just over a year.