The region will host one of two jobs forums planned to recruit some of the 8500 workers needed during the $9.5 billion project’s construction phase from next year.

Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting and the federal government copped flak from unions in May when the company won approval to use 1700 foreign workers to help build the Pilbara mine.

At the time, South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris called the decision a ‘‘shameful scam’’.

Roy Hill Holdings yesterday announced recruitment firm Skilled would seek advanced expressions of interest from workers.

Roy Hill general manager external affairs Darryl Hockey said Gilmore MP Joanna Gash and Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells had invited the company to the Illawarra forum, its first outside Western Australia.

The event, to be held before the end of October, is another chance for retrenched workers from the struggling manufacturing sector to raise their hands for mining jobs.

Mrs Gash yesterday said she and Senator Fierravanti-Wells had met Roy Hill representatives in Canberra.

‘‘If we look at the number of people they want to employ, which is about 8500, that would almost give a full-time job to every unemployed person in the South Coast and the Illawarra,’’ she said.

Roy Hill does not have a target number to recruit from the Illawarra, and no plans for fly-in, fly-out operations.

Mr Hockey said the push for domestic workers was not in response to criticisms over the foreign workers deal.

‘‘All independent and government labour market analyses indicated there would not be enough workers of the right experience and skills, and if that was the case we needed a back-up,’’ he said. ‘‘However, we want to make every effort to find experienced people of the right skills from Australia.’’

Sen Fierravanti-Wells said the Illawarra had the right manufacturing history and experience.

‘‘We are very pleased that Roy Hill will now be holding its first forum and the only forum outside Western Australia here in the area,’’ she said.

Labor MP for Throsby Stephen Jones had also previously written to Ms Rinehart about recruiting from the Illawarra, and has since passed on a number of resumés from residents to Roy Hill.

“While working in these harsh and remote conditions is not for everyone, I am pleased that Roy Hill has recognised we have workers right here in the Illawarra who are ready, willing and able for these jobs,’’ he said.

Details of the forum are yet to be finalised.