As the media seems keen to inform us, mining is one of the key industries driving the economy in Australia (particularly in Western Australia and Queensland), with millions of tonnes of iron ore, nickel, aluminium and other metals being dug up from the ground for export and processing domestically.
Beyond the many metal ores that are mined on our shores, energy is another major resource for the economy with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), coal, oil and petroleum driving the economy.
The industrial powerhouses of the twenty-first century of India and China rely heavily on the minerals found in Australia and the country earns hundreds of billions of dollars from these resources every year.
But what is life like on the mines themselves? We keep getting told that wages are high but long days in hot conditions – often in remote sites – don’t make for an easy days work. Most mining companies are keen to look after their workers though.
Western Australia is home to thousands of fly-in fly-out workers in the resource industry and companies in this sector are starting to see the benefits of synthetic grass for their employees.
Working away from home, digging iron ore out of the ground for hours on end is hard graft and mine operators like BHP Billiton recognise the need to supply attractive accommodation for their employees.
That’s why they engaged the services of Perth’s synthetic grass specialists, Green Planet Grass in the Pilbara. BHP’s Yandi mine site is a few hundred kilometres south of Port Hedland in Marillana Creek – pretty much in the middle of nowhere – and even drier, hotter and dustier than Perth.
Green Planet Grass were tasked with creating something of an oasis in the red desert and the results speak for themselves.
The synthetic grass installation at Yandi mine site included a putting green and crazy golf course that will never need watering and gives mine workers a great way to switch off after a long day’s work underground.
It’s a great way to unwind and a welcome respite from the dusty red desert for resource industry workers to find themselves in more familiar green surroundings for a relaxed stroll with a putter and a mate in the evenings. There is also the chance to practise for the keener golfer with a multi-station driving range on hand – not a bad way to unwind after a long day’s graft in our economy’s strongest sector.
