Another 170 people will be hired following the awarding of a six-year $1 billion mining contract to OZ Minerals recently. Its mining workforce will peak at 550 people, pushing the total number of mine workers at the mine site, including those employed by OZ and other mining contractors, to close to 1000.
Thiess, which handles the mining of copper and gold ore for OZ, had its current contract not only extended to 2018, but expanded.
The mining job increases will be a boon for South Australians, with both Thiess and OZ focussed on employing locally. A successful indigenous employment program [mining] is also run at the site, taking in participants from nearby communities such as Coober Pedy.
Executive general manager of Thiess Australian Mining Michael Wright said the company was proud of its diverse workforce and strong culture.
Indigenous and women’s job programs
“Of our people currently on the mine site, some 90 per cent are based in South Australia, with 15 per cent from regional aboriginal communities,” he said.
More than 15 per cent of� Thiess’ Prominent Hill mine site workforce are women.
Thiess said it was well underway in the planning, training and implementation of the ramp-up, which would require a “substantial expansion of�Thiess’ existing mining operation, peaking at five fleets of large mining equipment”.
