Western Plant Hire and Aboriginal-owned Nyiyaparla Engineering Mine & Maintenance Services have signed a joint venture agreement to provide plant hire and mining services in the Pilbara.
The joint venture will comprise a 50-50 split of ownership to each company and will be managed by a board with equal representation.
NEMMS was established in 2010 by members of the Bung family, the traditional owners of Nyiyaparli country in the Pilbara.
Belmont-based Western Plant Hire has been working closely with NEMMS for the past 12 months at Fortescue Metals Group’s Cloudbreak iron ore mine.
NEMMS director Sue Bung said the partnership would allow her family to participate in the local economy.
“Western Plant Hire and Fortesuce have really given us a start, and I’m thankful for this opportunity,” Ms Bung said.
“It gets us back onto Nyiyaparli country, to our songlines and sites, to keep our law and culture going.
“I look forward to getting our younger generation involved.”
Western Plant Hire chief executive Ray Bushnell said the two companies had similar values, which led to the creation of the partnership.
“It made since to take things to the next level and set up a joint venture,” he said.
“Since day one, NEMM’s commitment to the process has never faltered.
“They have been so driven, keen to learn, do more and get involved in the business operations from a day-to –day perspective.”
