Jeremy Edwards is CEO of the Shire of East Pilbara, which includes Newman, Marble Bar, Nullagine and several remote indigenous communities. At 372,500 sq km, it is Australia’s largest council area.

It takes about six hours to drive south to north through our shire, and a couple of days to travel east to west. One complexity of working in a region this size during COVID-19 is the different levels of lockdown imposed on our residents.

Some Aboriginal communities run by traditional landowners have their own restrictions; the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation closed Martu land; the Commonwealth biosecurity zone lockdown applies east of Jigalong; the State Government has had region restrictions and border closures, with new directions now coming in. That’s six lockdown layers to navigate, for people moving around our area.

We run services like our own wastewater treatment plant requiring contractors and specialists from Perth, and they’ve needed permits to travel to the Pilbara. The government and police have provided good advice to help us get essential workers in.

Mining activity here has increased during the pandemic, but there are job losses in hospitality and retail. Council’s ‘Regenerate Together’ package offers relief including community grants, business support and various rates/fees measures, with $7 million to stimulate the economy by upgrading Marble Bar Airport by December 2021. Mining companies will be able to fly there instead of Port Hedland, with flow-on effects to local businesses. Eighteen months out, 4-5 flights are already confirmed, bringing up to 600 people through Marble Bar weekly.

It is difficult to attract workers to this region, due to housing and travel affordability, remoteness, isolation, etc., so we can struggle with capacity and capability. My message is: “We don’t need you for a lifetime, just two or three years. Come and enjoy this part of Australia, learn, develop and grow professionally, then move on to other things.”

Jeremy Edwards
Chief Executive Officer
Shire of East Pilbara