Western Desert funding flows on iron ore pick-up WESTERN Desert Resources has secured the estimated $100 million in debt funding needed to complete the company's Roper Bar iron ore project in the Northern Territory, in an indication of how resurgent iron ore prices have reopened funding avenues for small resource companies. South Australia-based Western Desert said it had secured the remaining funding needed for Roper Bar's $200m development via Macquarie Bank, clearing the way for first iron ore shipments from the mine within 90 days.