Kingsmill Multiplant Joint Venture (KMJV) has secured a major contract to deliver bulk earthworks for Fortescue's Nullagine wind project, which supports the miner's transition from diesel power to renewable energy.

KMJV operates as 50-50 joint venture between Multiplant and Kingsmill Services, a 100 percent Aboriginal-owned business based in Western Australia, holding direct connections to the Palyku and Banjima Traditional Owner Groups in the Pilbara and the Yued people in the South West.

Kingsmill Director Benny Woodley says the company's identity traces back to his great-grandparents, who built their family home on Kingsmill Street in Port Hedland.

"I grew up in Port Hedland with my younger brother and sister, our backyard was the ocean, and we used to watch the ships come in, and when the tide when out, we'd walk on the reef catching squid and crabs," Woodley says.

"We grew up together, and now we own Kingsmill Services together, I'm really proud to be working with my younger siblings and building a business to help the next generation."

Kingsmill Services was established in 2015 after Woodley's mother suggested that the children set up a company.

"Mum sat us kids down and told us we needed to get a business registered and look at this space. She did all the leg work, set up meetings and did paperwork, all we had to think about was the name!" says the father of two.

"My mum was an Indigenous employment support worker at Fortescue, and in 2012 left Fortescue to pursue her own business opportunities.

"Back then Fortescue was supporting a lot of local Joint Ventures, so she got opportunities in the business space through Fortescue, and she could see the opportunities for us kids."

As a teenager, Woodley spent time in Boorloo / Perth playing footy for Swan Districts in the WAFL. After a bout of homesickness, he moved home to Port Hedland at 18.

At that time, Fortescue was promoting their Summit 300 campaign, a program in Port Hedland to attract 300 local Indigenous employees.

"Andrew Forrest was in the community a lot, hosting BBQs and such, and Mum called and said, 'come and meet Andrew', and I was 18 at the time and thought oh yeah why not," Woodley recalls.

"I met him and told him I was interested in health and safety, and then three weeks later after some health checks and training, I was at Cloudbreak (mine site) driving trucks. That temporary job turned into seven years!

"At first, the rosters were even weeks on and off, then they changed the roster to two weeks on, one week off - during one night shift I thought I'm too young to do this, my back hurt, I was tired and I was doing more working than living, so I quit."

The partnership with Multiplant enabled the purchase of equipment including a 6 x 4 watercart, a grader, rollers, and light vehicles. Kingsmill Services initially started with plant and labour hire on a small scale.

"I have to admit, it was a tough road, the civil construction industry is competitive, it was hard to get our name and brand out there," Woodley says.

"It took two years before we got our first opportunity, which was in 2018, we were contracted for small civil construction works.

"In 2020, we secured long term contracts in the civil construction space, which was great, but then Covid hit and we were locked in at the contract rates, which had its challenges."

Through his father, Woodley had a meeting with Nader El Sayed, the owner and Managing Director of Multiplant, a civil earthworks company.

"We liked each other straight away and started as an unincorporated entity joint venture, we wanted to get to know each other along the journey, that way it'd be an easy exit if things didn't work," he says.

"After a few years working together, we got 'married'! Kingsmill Services and Multiplant became an incorporated entity. Nader has been incredible, he's helped us build our business, he's supported and mentored us in this space."

Since then, Woodley has had the opportunity to secure contracts directly with mining giants.

"I was that kid who was always drawn to the oldies, I liked being around them and would tag along with them whenever I could," he says.

"I grew up going to native title meetings, and I enjoyed going along and listening to the Elders tell stories and their humour, and I liked the negotiations and seeing how they stood up for themselves and their communities against big corporations.

"When I was 18, I was able to go along to those meetings myself and get involved, which gave me an opportunity to travel through Country.

"And as part of the land use agreements, I'd learn about the corporates' commitments to business opportunities, employment, and training, and from that I established relationships with them, this was all prior to our business. But those relationships ended up really helping us secure contracts when we did go into business."

In 2025, KMJV won the Indigenous Business Excellence Award at the Hancock Supplier Awards for their work maintaining the railway lines from port operations to the mines, approximately 300-kilometres of rail, as well as and other miscellaneous works.

Commercially, KMJV provides civil infrastructure, mine site maintenance, crushing services, and shutdown personnel. Their fleet and workforce handle bulk and detailed earthworks, including haul roads, construction pads, and rehabilitation works. The company also manages crushing and screening for road building materials and concrete recycling.

The joint venture aims to build confidence in Indigenous communities by generating employment, facilitating economic independence, and preserving culture.

"I'm proud of being able to give back, especially to my parents and grandparents, just spoil them a little bit and look after them," Woodley says.

Locally, Kingsmills Services also supports local sports teams, sponsors cultural festivals, and drives a Community Entertainment Initiative that brings professional musicians and artists to local events.