Yurra-BGC JV wins Rio work

Indigenous contractor Yurra has formed a joint venture with BGC Contracting to provide services to Rio Tinto’s rail work in Cape Lambert and Dampier, with the value of the deal undisclosed.

The scope of work involves the refurbishment of undertrack rail culverts in Dampier, and works on rail level crossings at Cape Lambert for the iron ore giant.

Yurra chairman Michael Woodley said the project with Rio was a great opportunity for the joint venture partners to demonstrate its combined strength and expertise.

BGC chief executive Greg Heylen said the work would be managed and operated from the company’s regional branch located in Karratha.

“There is access to a skilled and sable local workforce and significant opportunities for the local indigenous communities,” Mr Heylen said.

“We believe there is great potential for the joint venture in the future by using the collective strengths of the two partners.”

Rio Tinto Iron Ore general manager, communications Ben Laidlaw said the miner directly employs about 1,000 indigenous people, including over 380 Pilbara Aboriginal people.

Yurra is the commercial division of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) and was formed in 2013 in partnership with ALM.

YAC is one of three Aboriginal companies which represents the Yindjibarndi people, alongside Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation and Roebourne-based Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation.

Wirlu-murra broke away from YAC in 2012 and established itself as a separate entity, after YAC controversially began campaigning against Fortescue Metals Group’s Pilbara expansion plans.

Wirlu-murra has a joint venture with Eastern Guruma, one of the largest and most successful indigenous contractors in the Pilbara, which teamed up with Leighton Contractors to secure a $200 million, five-year mining services contract with Fortescue in 2013.