More than $569 million is being invested into regional Western Australia through the State Government’s new Seven Cities Vision, with backing from the mining sector set to unlock housing, strengthen frontline services and support the next wave of industry growth.
The long-term plan identifies Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Port Hedland, Karratha, Broome, Geraldton and Albany as critical hubs for economic development, with significant funding committed to housing, transport, industrial infrastructure, water security and essential services that will help regional communities grow alongside major mining projects.
Strong backing from the mining sector is underpinning the housing rollout, with major operators stepping in alongside government to fund critical worker accommodation.
Rio Tinto has committed $100 million to deliver homes to Karratha, where many of its employees live and work, as well as the regional fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) hubs of Broome, Geraldton and Albany.
BHP is contributing $50 million to build essential worker accommodation in Port Hedland, while the WA Government will invest $419 million through the 2026–27 budget to expand GROH accommodation across regional areas, with additional support from Hancock Prospecting.
“To seize the big job-creating projects in front of us in regional WA, we need the Seven Cities to have the economic infrastructure they need and to be able to provide quality services to the towns and remote communities within their regions,” he said.
Rio Tinto said its investment reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to regional WA and the frontline workers who help keep local communities strong.
For the mining industry, that investment helps remove one of the biggest barriers to growth: access to housing. By increasing accommodation for teachers, police and other frontline workers, more homes can become available in the private market, improving liveability
With mining majors investing alongside government, the Seven Cities vision is laying the foundation for stronger regional communities and the infrastructure needed to support WA’s next generation of mining growth.