Mining giant BHP has pledged AU$45 million in funding to build new homes across Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
The funding will be made available through the government’s Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII). The investment will be split into two major regional projects designed to support essential workers and remote Aboriginal communities.
Under the scheme, BHP will invest AU$30 million directly into building new homes within remote Pilbara communities.
Local Traditional Owners will be heavily involved in the design, planning, and construction phases, a move credited with creating significant opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses.
This corporate investment complements the government’s recent AU$127 million top-up to the Remote Communities Fund in the 2026-27 State Budget.
A further AU$15 million will see BHP revitalise East Newman by converting up to 40 of its currently vacant properties into affordable housing.
These homes are earmarked specifically for essential regional workers who miss out on standard Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) schemes, such as childcare educators, retail staff, and hospitality workers.
Premier Roger Cook said the partnership allows the state to leverage its world-leading resources sector to deliver the vital services regional communities deserve.
“I want to thank BHP for its contribution to these projects, which will help make Newman and the Pilbara an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” Cook said.
BHP Iron Ore Asset President Tim Day noted that securing stable housing creates benefits that flow well beyond the buildings themselves, noting that appropriate remote housing reduces overcrowding and drives better community health outcomes.
“Our investment will ensure more key worker housing, help revitalise East Newman and create new recreation areas for the entire community,” Day said.
The state’s total committed RCII funding now sits at AU$427 million, following a separate AU$160 million announcement from BHP for Port Hedland infrastructure earlier this month.
The investment also includes a AU$170 million commitment from Rio Tinto, BHP, and Hancock to undertake the state’s biggest-ever build of Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) to support the government’s Seven Cities vision.
