Rio Tinto Iron Ore today announced it will start a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) commute roster from Carnarvon.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore today announced it will start a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) commute roster from Carnarvon.
The program will effectively link residents of Carnarvon and the Ningaloo coast with iron ore mines in the Pilbara.
Rio Tinto's Managing Director of Pilbara Mine Operations Greg Lilleyman said the Carnarvon FIFO program is part of a broader strategy to provide employees with a range of work and lifestyle options.
"Rio Tinto Iron Ore operates 11 mines, three ports and a 1,300 kilometre rail network in the Pilbara.
We employ approximately 6,500 people and around 6,000 contractors and we will need to recruit many more to cater for our planned expansion to 320 million tonnes in 2012, and beyond that towards 420 million tonnes," Mr Lilleyman said.
"Given the tight labour market across Australian industry, we intend to provide our employees a wider range of lifestyle options, such as FIFO from regional locations around the State.
"Our first regional FIFO program started from Geraldton to the West Pilbara in 2006 and we started a program from Busselton to the East Pilbara last year.
We also started two FIFO commutes for indigenous employees from Broome and Port Hedland to our East
Pilbara mines.
"By establishing a regional FIFO service from Carnarvon to our West Pilbara mines of Nammuldi, Brockman and Marandoo, we hope to meet two key objectives -- to open up a new and sustainable labour market in the Gascoyne for FIFO employees and to significantly increase the employment of Aboriginal people in our business."
Mr Lilleyman said recruitment will start immediately with flights expected to begin mid-year.
The program will start with a weekly flight in a light aircraft from Carnarvon to Brockman and Paraburdoo, before returning to Carnarvon later in the day.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore will start advertising for Gascoyne residents interested in applying fo jobs under the FIFO program in local media.
