BHP is banking on a $150 million mining camp to even out bumps in the fly in, fly out operation and smooth the way to its target of gender balance at a giant new iron ore mine in Western Australia’s rugged Pilbara.

That’s why it has built a three-storey cafe, a cross-fit gym, a 3000-book library, a kitchen just for cooking masterclasses and a virtual golf course at the mining camp attached to the $US3.6 billion South Flank project.