Western Australia’s (WA) West Pilbara Coast and its thriving hub Karratha are home to a large mining and industry complexes producing salt, iron ore, copper, fertilizers and natural gas. Often referred to as the 'engine room of the nation', some of the world’s largest privately owned railways are also located here. The region generates approximately 15 percent of Australia’s national economy through exports, taxes and royalties. Enjoy a guided tour through one of the many facilities in this resource rich region. They can be booked through the Karratha and Roebourne visitor centres.
Westmore Seafoods
The Pilbara fishing industry makes a vital contribution to the local economy and is a major supplier of fresh seafood to the whole of Australia. As many as 20 vessels operate out of Johns Creek, at different times of the year. The total annual production is between 2,500 and 3,000 tonnes, more than 50% of the State’s catch, making Johns Creek on Point Samson Peninsula Western Australia’s (WA) premier fish producing port. Fresh and frozen seafood can be purchased all year round from Westmore Seafood’s factory on Bill Miller Drive, off Honeymoon Road. Visit the Westmore Seafood website for further information about the fishing industry.
Dampier Salt
In the 1960s, Hamersley Iron established a deep-water port, support facilities and community infrastructure at Dampier on the West Pilbara Coast.
Since the first shipment of 19,000 tonnes in April 1972, to Central Glass in Japan, sales of salt from the Dampier Salt operations in WA have increased from one million to over four million tonnes per year. The salt is mainly used in the chemical industry, for the production of plastics, glass, detergents and a variety of chemicals. It is also used in food processing, food products and road de-icing. To find out more about the operations, visit the Dampier Salt website.
Rio Tinto - Iron Ore
Port facilities at Dampier and Cape Lambert on the West Pilbara Coast are owned by Rio Tinto. As a world-class asset manager, the company operates and maintains the salt industry, ore mining, rail, port and power facilities in this region of WA.Take a look at Dampier and Cape Lambert operations by joining one of the facilities tours. See the tours page or contact Karratha or Roebourne visitor centre for more details.
Rio Tinto - Iron Ore Rail Facility
The Rio Tinto - Iron Ore Rail Facility operates the largest privately owned rail network in Australia. The facility services 11 mining sites via a mainline system of approximately 1300 kilometres of track and has the capacity to haul approximately 130 million tonnes of ore per year. The rail system is an essential part of Rio Tinto - Iron Ore's integrated production process and directly affects the company's capacity to blend ore to meet customer specifications.
Dampier Ship Loading Facility
There are two ship-loading terminals located at Dampier – Parker Point commenced its first operations in 1966 and East Intercourse Island in 1972. The port facility is 250 kilometres from the nearest inland mining site on the West Pilbara Coast. It takes approximately 24 to 36 hours to load a ship and the average ship loading capacity is 140 million tonnes per annum. For more information about the iron ore operations visit the Rio Tinto website.
North West Shelf Gas Venture
Located on the Burrup Peninsula, near the Port of Dampier and the town of Karratha, is the North-West Shelf Natural Gas Venture (NWSV), the largest mining and resource development project in Australia. The company’s investments total more than AU$15 billion. Based on large gas and condensate fields on the North West Shelf on the West Pilbara Coast, the venture supplies natural gas to the domestic market in WA, liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan and condensate, crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to international markets. For more information, visit the North West Shelf Natural Gas website.
Woodside Visitor Centre
The Woodside Visitor Centre, which is situated overlooking the North West Shelf Natural Gas Venture on the West Pilbara Coast of WA, offers views of the project, and displays including an award-winning video. The centre is open for viewing from March to November (the centre is closed Christmas/New Year and Easter). Admission is free of charge. For opening times contact Karratha Visitor Centre.
Access to the Woodside Visitor Centre is via the Burrup Road (about five kilometres from Dampier). Follow the road for about 10 kilometres, it is conveniently signposted. The North West Shelf Natural Gas Venture is not open to the public.
Burrup Fertilisers
Construction of the Burrup Fertilisers AU$700 million liquid ammonia plant on the Burrup Peninsula, near Karratha in WA, started in 2003. The company’s first export shipment was made from the Port of Dampier in June, 2006. With an annual production capacity of 760,000 tonnes, the plant is one of the world's largest ammonia production facilities, producing 6% of the total world output of tradable ammonia. Visit the Burrup Fertilisers website for further information.
Straits Resources Ltd (Whim Creek Copper Project)
The Whim Creek Copper Project is located adjacent to the North West Highway, midway between Karratha and Port Hedland in WA, and is controlled and operated by Straits Resources Ltd. Whim Creek comprises of two deposits, Whim Creek and Mons Cupri. They are located six kilometres apart on the West Pilbara Coast. Both deposits are mined using conventional open pit mining techniques. For more information about the Whim Creek copper mine visit the Straits Resources website.
To find out more about mining and industry tours on WA’s West Pilbara Coast, contact the Karratha and Roebourne visitor centres.
Some information presented in this website has been sourced, with permission, from the Shire of Roebourne website.
