The turning of the first sod at the Dampier Community Hub site marked a momentous occasion today with construction of the $18 million facility now underway.

City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long was joined by Minister for Regional Development Terry Redman and Rio Tinto General Manager of Communities Robyn Sermon for the event which signaled a new era for the town.

City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long said he was delighted to see years of hard work and planning for the project realised and construction underway.

“We have worked hard with not only our funding partners but also our community partners, to bring the Dampier Community Hub to fruition. Getting a design that is both iconic and functional has been the product of an extensive engagement process with user groups and the community at large,” Cr Long said.

“Now we are on the home stretch for the project and the coming weeks and months the community will start to see all of our discussions and hard work come to life with a flurry of activity on site.”

“The Hub is set to improve the facilities and service offerings in the town, giving them a much needed upgrade, but more importantly it will be an iconic building that will continue to grow the sense of place in this historic township.”

“Projects of this scale simply don’t happen without major contributions and I’d like to acknowledge the significant support Rio Tinto and the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program have made for this project to become a reality.”

The Dampier Community Hub is made possible by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, Rio Tinto and the City of Karratha.