Economic Development

The company’s potential Duchess Paradise Project offers a range of significant economic and social benefits for the Canning Basin region, including the creation of approximately 300 jobs during construction and 300 jobs during production. The company will use local contractors and suppliers wherever possible and aims to offer substantial Indigenous training and job creation.

The company is currently in formal negotiations with the Traditional Owners to reach a Native Title Agreement which will further embed benefits to Indigenous communities. The project represents a significant economic development opportunity for the nearby Indigenous communities which are long distances from any major tourism places or attractions in the region.

The project will also deliver benefits to the people and state of Western Australia. In addition to the income to government from taxation and royalties that will be generated, the Duchess Paradise project will diversify WA’s mineral export base and expanding the customer base for WA’s mineral exports away from reliance on China. It also supports new export potential for Derby Port which is an existing facility in close proximity to south Asian markets.

The mining sector continues to play an important role in Western Australia’s regional development. In 2006/07 economic output from the Kimberley region was approximately $2.5 billion of which the mining sector contributed $991 million. Other key contributors to the region’s economic prosperity included retail trade ($350 million), construction ($230 million) and tourism ($637 million). Source: Chamber of Minerals and Energy, Position Paper: Policies, planning and partnerships for responsible resources development in the Kimberley (2010).

Rey Resources supports the broadly recognised need for a multi-user approach to planning and land-use for the Kimberley region which integrates conservation, indigenous and economic interests. Rey Resources also supports the view that the two main drivers of economic output in the region (mining and tourism) should and can work together to maintain successful coexistence.