Onslow Iron’s resort-style accommodation is situated on the land of the Robe River Kuruma (RRK) people – the Traditional Owners of the Country at Ken’s Bore mine – with Mungala Resort taking its name from a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘Red Hill’ which serves as a landmark for the local area.
An official opening ceremony was attended by the RRK Board, Traditional Owners, members of the Onslow Iron project team and MinRes leaders, including a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony performed by Georgina Bobby, Arnold Bobby and Sharon Lockyer.
Further demonstrating the strong relationship between RRK and MinRes, RRK Directors held a Board meeting at Mungala Resort – the first time the Board has held such a meeting at an operating site.
MinRes Managing Director Chris Ellison said the official opening of Mungala Resort acknowledged the company’s partnership with RRK and supported its commitment to workplace wellbeing.
“Close engagement with the Robe River Kuruma people has supported Onslow Iron’s development and fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation of the cultural significance of these lands – and Mungala Resort now offers lasting recognition of our partnerships,” he said.
“At Onslow Iron, we’ve made it our mission to set a new standard for mine site accommodation and wellbeing. Through innovative design, we believe we have created something truly unique in Australia.
“We recognise traditional mining camps must evolve to meet the needs of our people, grow female participation and build a more diverse and productive workforce. At Mungala Resort, that included providing rooms that are suitable for singles and couples.
“Mental health is also a huge focus for us. In addition to providing free and confidential support, we wanted an environment where people feel safe and healthy. Mungala Resort is more than just a place to sleep, it’s a home away from home.”
Robe River Kuruma Chair Kelly Slattery said the naming of Mungala Resort was an important reflection of RRK Country.
“We are pleased MinRes has worked with the RRK people to ensure that our people and Country are reflected in the project.," she said.
“We congratulate MinRes on this achievement and we look forward to the partnership over the next 30 years.”
In delivering the Onslow Iron project, MinRes is also proud to foster longstanding relationships with Thalanyji people – Traditional Owners of Country supporting the project’s haulage and marine operations.
A new standard of FIFO
Now fully operational, Mungala Resort is leading MinRes’ efforts to set the standard for facilities, food and flights in the Western Australian resources sector.
The resort is currently home to 23 couples and almost a quarter of employees at the Ken’s Bore mine site are women, a higher representation than at MinRes’ other sites.
The facility is located opposite Ken’s Bore Airport, serviced by in-house airline MinRes Air flying directly to site, and features 500 rooms each measuring 45m² – three times the size of traditional FIFO accommodation.
Rooms also include mounted big screen TVs with video call capability supported by high-speed internet access, helping employees to stay connected with loved ones. Safety has been prioritised across the resort, with individual access cards and an extensive CCTV network throughout the facility.
Residents at Mungala Resort enjoy the same high-quality food and dining experiences that set MinRes apart in its industry.
In Benny’ restaurant, which has been designed to reflect the offerings at MinRes’ head office, buffet breakfasts and dinners include a popular cook-to-order service – while the adjacent crib room provides a wide range of lunch options including pre-packed and ready-to-heat meals or sandwich and salad bars.
At Dizzy’s tavern, residents can also enjoy à la carte meals such as chicken parmigiana and woodfired pizza, while the resort café serves freshly brewed coffee every morning.
Employee downtime is covered with elevated recreation options including a swimming pool, indoor fitness centre and outdoor fitness park, cinema, golf and racing simulators, pool tables, sports courts, mini golf, cricket nets and a football oval.
MinRes Director People Andrea Chapman said Onslow Iron’s accommodation and amenities are unique in the resources industry.
"We know working FIFO often involves long hours in tough conditions, so Onslow Iron was MinRes' opportunity to take the care of our people to a whole new level," she said.
“We are confident this investment will help Onslow Iron attract and retain talent, deliver better health outcomes for our people and contribute to the project’s success.
"While Mungala Resort leads our efforts to redefine the on-site experience, ongoing upgrades across other MinRes sites also aim to deliver the best possible employee experience.”
Learn more about Mungala Resort and the Onslow Iron project.
