First Quantum Minerals’ Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine wins over community and workers by shunning FIFO

It is 5.30am and the peaks of Fitzgerald River National Park’s Barrens Range are beginning to show in silhouette on the horizon as we drive towards Hopetoun. Despite the darkness there is no point flicking the high beams and spotlights on — a steady procession of vehicles is already making the early commute the other way. We’re told a good number of them are going to the same place. That place is a mine which, for more than two years from 2017, lay dormant as a painful reminder of what can happen when a major employer in a small town decides it is not feasible to keep a project running. Now reopened and with a new deposit under development, it is worth it and, more importantly, the company behind it has made it clear from day one the community in which it operates is worth it too. FAMILY LIFESTYLE FOR FORMER FIFO WORKER When lab technician Ben Kennedy first heard there was a residential job going in his field at First Quantum Minerals’ Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation he was surprised. Like many sandgropers in mining, his story was one of a fly-in, fly-out life on the mega iron ore projects up north. Mr Kennedy had lived the FIFO life since turning 18 — first from WA, then from Thailand where he met his partner, Ying, and had a child, Magnus, now 3. “I got made redundant in 2015 and at that point I was already doing job-share — two weeks on, four weeks off — looking for more of a work-life balance,” he said. “I met Ying in 2015 and had Magnus and decided for him we would move back to Australia because there is a lot more opportunity here. “I was dreading it because I thought FIFO was all that would be available.” The family now lives in Hopetoun. You can hear the ocean from their home and young Magnus has parks nearby to explore. For Mr Kennedy, the move to Hopetoun and the work roster has been life-changing. He admits he wasn’t much of a nature person — he had never visited a national park in his life — but he has relished the natural world since moving next door to the Fitzgerald biosphere. “My background was in iron ore working in a mineral lab and it kind of pigeonholed me into applying for FIFO jobs, and that is all I thought I could do,” Mr Kennedy said. “I really do hope this lasts as long as possible because we have been given a gift. “I have ended up here where I am home every night and still get to work and now just look forward to the end of every shift, not every fortnight. I feel like I could do this forever.” MINE FUELS RAVENSTHORPE RENAISSANCE Garry Singh runs a local service station in Ravensthorpe. Like almost every business owner the Kalgoorlie Miner spoke to in town this week, Mr Singh said the mine was a noticeable and beneficial addition to town. “That has made a huge difference since they have opened up,” he said. “It is a big number of people coming through every day helping the local businesses. “They wear their FQM shirts so we know straight away, especially when there are changeovers.” While Yummylicious Candy Shack is largely driven by the tourist dollar, co-owner Belinda McHarg said she had noticed a difference in town. “Galaxy (Resources) filled up our town ... then FQM came in and the same thing happened,” she said. “It is filling up Hopetoun, and we have the goldmine not far away from opening too.” The idea behind the candy shack’s giant lollipop was born out of Ms McHarg’s desire to bring some positivity to the town following the Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation’s closure in 2017. ‘WORKING HOLIDAY’ BRINGS NEW HOBBIES Senior management accountant Paul and executive administrator Roz Trichet have always committed to residential work. They have lived in the Pilbara, Perth and the South West during their careers. But by the start of 2020, work opportunities were scarce for Mr Trichet and he was grappling with the thought of going FIFO. “I did have a couple of opportunities in FIFO work life but that fell through and I am glad it did,” he said. “That was a last resort because jobs were getting a bit tight with COVID, then this job popped up and we just grabbed it. “I prefer to be here with the family and Roz was just finishing up her work with her employer so the timing was right to head down.” Life in Hopetoun has been a blessing for the couple — beach walks and hikes have become a welcome replacement for hour-long commutes in the big smoke. “You just get so fed up with the congestion of Perth so it is not difficult to come here, see how beautiful it is and feel like you are just getting away from that whole rat race,” Mrs Trichet said. “You just get bogged down on weekends in Perth ... whereas everything is so close to you here — you just jump in the car and the national park is five minutes down the road. “The community is fabulous, too. The first week I was here I needed a bit of help with putting some furniture together ... so I jumped on to the community Facebook page and ... had all of these replies.” Mr Trichet describes his job as a “working holiday”. “You work hard while you are down here but then after hours there’s a lot to do,” he said. “We don’t have a set of traffic lights in Hopetoun, just a smiley face if you’re not driving too fast in town.” He said they were doing more in Hopetoun than they ever did in Perth. The Trichets aren’t yet sure it is a forever move, but they are sure they are keen to be part of the community for a long time. EXPERIENCE IS GOOD, ATTITUDE IS BETTER Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation’s new general manager David De Vries has a simple mantra when it comes to sourcing staff. He wants people with the right attitude, rather than just the right skills. “You are not necessarily going to find experienced, skilled people or the numbers you need locally, so it does change things in terms of what you really want is enthusiastic people who are ready to learn,” he said. “Enthusiasm is the No.1 thing. “You can do a lot with it. “An experienced workforce with the wrong attitude will help you for the first few months but very quickly you will hit limits, whereas if you have a bunch of enthusiastic people and ... you put effort into training them very quickly they will be a capable workforce — you just have to be willing to go through that process.” RNO’s recruitment drive has been a success. FQM’s community contributions More than 100 — about 50 per cent — of the workforce were recruited locally, and 110 workers have been moved to Hopetoun, many with their families. For a town with a population of about 900, that makes a big difference. “It is something still being refined,” Mr De Vries said. “We do struggle in some key positions in finding people with the right experience and skills, more in technical roles where you can’t just take someone and train them to be an expert. “But overall I think you could say it is pretty successful.” Mr De Vries admits the live-and-work-locally mantra may not have broad appeal in WA yet, but he says it does attract a different type of person. The people it attracts, Mr De Vries says, are those who are tired of FIFO, who want to see their family every night, and who want a life where their “kids can run amok” freely in a tight-knit community.