A South Perth apartment building purchased by Gina Rinehart will be refurbished to provide much-needed accommodation for West Australian veterans. Work is expected to commence before the end of the year to completely refurbish the existing building to create nine two-bedroom apartments. The property is expected to be ready to accept residents in the first half of 2024.
Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has purchased property for Western Australia’s first veterans accommodation program. The program is a joint initiative between the Australian Air Force Association (RAAFA) and the RSLWA to provide housing for former members of the defence forces in a refurbished apartment building in south Perth. “This support is enabling RSLWA and RAAFA to build on our proud legacies of going above and beyond to support WA veterans who have given incredible service to our country.” Rinehart was named “Honorary Guardian of Veterans” by Soldier On this year for her long-term support of veterans. The property will be known as Sir Valston Hancock House after a former leader of the Royal Australian Air Force and Rinehart’s uncle.
Two of Western Australia’s largest and most established ex-service organisations have joined forces to launch the State’s first targeted accommodation program specifically for veterans. The joint initiative between the Australian Air Force Association, known as RAAFA, and RSLWA is set to provide quality housing for former members of the defence forces in a refurbished apartment building in South Perth. The unique program has been made possible through a partnership with Hancock Prospecting, which has purchased an existing property to support the needs of WA veterans. Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, was named “Honorary Guardian of Veterans” by Soldier On this year for her long-term support of veterans. Under her leadership Hancock Prospecting and its related companies, including Roy Hill, drive the opportunity for veteran employment within each of these businesses.
Wabtec and leading iron ore miner Roy Hill, majority-owned by Hancock Prospecting, have debuted the world’s first 100% battery-powered, heavy-haul locomotive for mainline service. Hancock Prospecting Group operations chief executive Gerhard Veldsman commented on the debut. “The foresight of our Executive Chairman, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, has been instrumental in establishing an environment in which we can successfully leverage the ingenuity of our people alongside key partners like Wabtec to transform our rail and mining operations through next-generation technologies,” he said.”The FLXdrive locomotive represents not only a first for the Pilbara, but a first for the mining industry. “The technological smarts that have gone into the development of the loco makes it well suited for our rail network. “By using regenerative braking, it will charge its battery on the 344km (214 miles) downhill run from our mine to port facility and use that stored energy to return to the mine, starting the cycle all over again.
Gina Rinehart has broken ground on a $20 million renovation project at Roy Hill’s headquarters in west Perth. Reflecting Rinehart’s commitment to ongoing breast cancer research, the building will be pink themed and inspired by the Sturt desert pea. “We love our firsts at Roy and our design will be the first of its kind in Australia, indeed the world,” Rinehart said.
Gina Rinehart has turned the first soil at a $20 million project to renovate the future West Perth headquarters of iron ore miner Roy Hill Holdings. The office building at 53 Ord Street could house up to 600 staff for the big mining company, which is embarking on expansion plans at its multi-billion-dollar Pilbara export operations. It was revealed in October the City of Perth had signed off on planning approval for the site, which will be themed on the red Australian wildflower the Sturt desert pea. The flower and the pink theme reflect Roy Hill executive chairman Gina Rinehart’s long commitment to breast cancer research and support.
As the minister overseeing the process, he has been unable to effect any real change in seven years, so there’s little confidence that change will happen quickly. According to the CCIWA, there are about $381 billion of investment projects in the pipeline that are yet to receive environmental approval that could create an estimated 106,000 jobs. Of those the CCIWA surveyed, 40 per cent were at risk of abandoning their project due to longer-than expected approval times. As outlined in the WA CCI’s Green Web report, businesses have described working with the State Environmental Protection Authority as “laborious and frustrating” with “ever-changing guidelines and shifting goal posts”. Currently, the normal expectation for a mine to come online is eight to 10 years, double traditional expectations of four to five years.
Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has taken a majority stake in the Bunbury Farmers Market, heralding a new era for the South West business. The West Australian can reveal that Hancock Prospecting, Mrs Rinehart’s key investment vehicle, has reached a deal with the market’s current owners — Kevin Opferkuch and Graham Heath — but the exact terms were not disclosed. In a statement, Hancock said the investment would help to accelerate plans to grow the much-loved market, including the development of the recently announced Vasse Village Bunbury Farmers Market, which is set to open in late 2024. “Additional future sites, including Perth locations, will also allow new customers to enjoy the unique BFM experience,” Hancock said.
The mayors of the Gold Coast and Perth have proposed hosting a “coast-to-coast” 2026 Commonwealth Games – backed by the nation’s richest person – to “rescue Australia’s reputation” following the withdrawal of original hosts Victoria under Daniel Andrews. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas – as well as billionaire mining magnate and sports patron Gina Rinehart – have sent a letter this week to Anthony Albanese seeking his support for the idea.
