Cimic Group subsidiary CPB Contractors has won a US$94m project to provide construction and dust mitigation fences for BHP Group, an Australian company specialising in mining, metals and petroleum.

The fences will be based at Nelson Point and Finucane Island at Port Hedland, in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The aim is to reduce the spread of dust over the Port Hedland township.

Juan Santamaria, Cimic’s executive chairman, said: “The fences are the first of their kind in Australia, designed for the Pilbara’s extreme weather conditions to improve air quality in the area by reducing wind speeds and the potential for dust lift-off.”

Jason Spears, CPB Contractors’ managing director, said: “We are proud of our commitment to local procurement and will ensure that opportunities for indigenous employment and businesses are maximised.”

Cindy Dunham, BHP’s general manager of port operations, said: “The wind fence project is a key part of our commitment towards continued improvement of our existing dust control measures as we continue to increase production.”

Work on the project will begin in 2022 and is due to be completed in 2023.