Mining company Rio Tinto will provide a mobile worker camp to help rebuild flood-damaged Fitzroy Crossing, in lieu of payment for the cost of the massive search for a missing radioactive capsule.
The tiny capsule, used at a Rio mine site in the Pilbara, went missing some time between January 11 and January 16 as it was being transported to Perth, sparking an urgent public health warning and a desperate search over 1,400 kilometres of mostly remote outback highway.
It was found on February 1, just two metres from the side of the road south of the town of Newman by a team from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Experts from ANSTO and other organisations had been brought to WA to find the 6mm by 8mm capsule, used in mining equipment, as quickly as possible.
When it was found, Rio Tinto chief executive Simon Trott offered to pay for the cost of the search.
Worker accommodation funded
Following discussions between Rio and Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson, it has been agreed that instead of a cash payment, Rio will provide accommodation for workers sent to the Kimberley to rebuild homes and infrastructure after January's devastating floods.
A mobile workers' camp for 40 people will be brought from a Rio site in the Pilbara to Fitzroy Crossing by the end of April.
Rio Tinto chief executive Simon Trott said at a cost of $4 million, it was worth more than the cost of the search.
"We really want to support the efforts to rebuild the Kimberley following those devastating floods," he said.
"[We're] really pleased to have worked with the state government to bring forward this solution, to honour our commitment to pay for the search for the capsule."
The exact cost of the search for the capsule has not been revealed.
The mobile camp is being donated to the state government and includes a dry mess, loading dock, office space, water tanks, water treatment plant, laundry and first aid facilities.
The camp will provide urgent accommodation for the initial flood recovery workforce while other medium-term arrangements are organised.
Rebuilding could take two years
Premier Mark McGowan said it would make a big difference.
"It's an enormous task the rebuilding of the Kimberley and this will be an enormous contribution towards that," Mr McGowan said.
Mr Dawson said the camp would help Fitzroy recover.
"We will see probably over the next probably two years the need to rebuild up to about 100 houses, to rebuild a road, to rebuild bridges and so we will need a workforce in town as quickly as possible to start that work," he said.
"This offer from Rio Tinto really does assist us."
