US-based Albemarle approved the A$2 billion expansion of Kemerton in May, which will double capacity to 100,000 tonnes per annum of lithium hydroxide.

Yesterday, the company awarded the $70 million contract to operate the Paris Grove accommodation village to Compass Group Remote Hospitality Services subsidiary ESS Support Services Worldwide.

The $140 million, 800-bed Paris Grove facility is under construction in Australind, near Bunbury.

The contract is for three years with options to extend.

The Compass Group contract award follows the recent Albemarle announcement of two other major Kemerton expansion contracts including a $330 million contract to CIMIC Group subsidiary UGL and a $200 million plus contract to Monadelphous.

Albemarle vice president, capital projects Australia Josh Rowan said the contracts were among the largest ever awarded by Albemarle and the Compass/ESS contract was the first workforce accommodation contract ever awarded by the company in Australia.

"We are Australia's largest producer and manufacturer of lithium and our Kemerton plant is about to get a whole lot bigger," he said.

"Construction of trains 3 and 4 is set to create over 1000 new jobs across all of our major contractors and Albemarle has recently launched an intensive three-month recruitment drive in support of our major Kemerton contractors.

"We are particularly pleased that Compass Group is seeking to employ as many local people as possible to run and manage Paris Grove with the variety and flexibility of roles set to be very attractive to local job seekers."