Dan Wilkie

Pacific Energy has been appointed to build, own and maintain a power station for Sandfire Resources' DeGrussa copper gold project.

Mutiny Gold has successfully raised $9.7 million to acquire the Gullewa gold project in the Mid West and to expand exploration programs at the development's Deflector deposit.

Civil and mining services contractor NRW Holdings has announced two new deals with Fortescue Metals Group worth a combined $192 million.

Internet service provider iiNet's research and development division has announced its first overseas contract win, after entering a deal with New Zealand-based telco Orcon.

Shipbuilder Austal has announced it has won a £7.4 million ($11.1 million) contract to design and construct three offshore support vessels for UK-based Turbine Transfers.

The state government's 20-year vision for Perth's public transport system, which includes light rail and rapid transit buses, has been cautiously welcomed by the Greens and sustainability experts.

The Australian Steel Institute says the award of a major contract for Chevron's $44 billion Gorgon natural gas project to a Perth-based company is proof local firms can do the work, but small- to medium-sized workshops in the state are still struggling.

IT has been 18 years in the making, but the final pieces of the Subi Centro puzzle are snapping into place, with significant progress occurring at the last two undeveloped sites, the Australian Fine China precinct and Centro North.

Mutiny Gold shares have soared after it announced that successful exploration programs at its flagship Deflector gold project in the Murchison had resulted in it doubling its initial production estimates.

The Perth office market is the tightest CBD market in Australia, and its rents are growing at the fastest rate, new statistics say.

Austal has provided an update on a review of its Henderson operations first announced in May, saying it needs to regionalise its manufacturing base to remain competitive in the face of the strong-performing Australian dollar.

Pan Asia Corporation has announced a formal agreement with underground mining group KOPEX to undertake a final feasibility study on its TCM coal project in Indonesia.

Canada's Ivernia has announced that it will continue to fund exploration at the Prarie Downs base metals project near Newman under a joint venture agreement with the project's owner signed in June last year.

Metropolitan Perth has a long way to go to arrest its urban sprawl, according to recently released statistics.

A substantial nation-leading lift in new home lending in May in Western Australia was encouraging, the Housing Industry Association says, but it was not enough to offset falls in the previous two months of the quarter.

Western Australian industry remains concerned that the carbon tax is the wrong policy at the wrong time, now that its detail has been released, the state's peak business and industry bodies say.

Perth-based uranium miner Bannerman Resources has received a highly conditional $143 million takeover offer from China's Sichuan Hanlong Group.

Troubled Perth-based scooter manufacturer and retailer Vmoto has provided another market update, amid growing pressure from shareholders to reveal more details surrounding key contracts, financial details and the status of its executive search.

There has been a flurry of new Western Australian stockmarket entrants to close last financial year and to begin the new, with seven resources-focused firms from WA listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in June and July.

An independent authority has been established to manage $3.2 billion of renewable energy funding, as further details continued to trickle out ahead of Sunday's national carbon tax package.

Navigator Resources' falling share price has forced it to again restructure its planned rights issue to raise up to $32.6 million.

Canadian energy company ATCO Group has announced a conditional agreement to acquire Western Australia's major gas utility, WA Gas Networks, in two deals worth around a combined $1 billion.

Corporate insolvencies in Western Australia have increased by more than 20 per cent over the financial year to May, according to official figures released by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

THE Housing Industry Association says new home sales in Western Australia are at ‘dangerously’ low monthly volumes.

THERE are serious industry concerns over the financial implications of the state government’s plan to introduce private certification for building licences and doubts have surfaced as to whether it will actually hasten the building approvals process.

Minerals explorer Copper Strike says it plans to accept Kagara's offer to buy its Einasleigh copper project in north Queensland for about $19 million, unless it receives a better proposal.

Amex Resources says it will fast track the development of its Mba Delta iron sands project in the Fiji Islands after completing a pre-feasibility study that put its cost at less than $US60 million.

The Housing Industry Association says Western Australia's struggling residential construction sector is due to bottom out soon, and is forecasting a rebound of 17.8 per cent over 2012 and 2013 combined.

Mineral Resources has been appointed by Fortescue Metals Group to design, construct and operate a second processing facility at the Christmas Creek iron ore mine, which it expects to generate more than $1 billion in revenue over 10 years.

Matsa Resources says negotiations are well advanced on binding agreements with two China-based firms that would enable it to commence development of its Norseman gold project.

Karoon Gas has received federal environmental approval to commence drilling at its Browse Basin gas permits off the Western Australian coast.

Commerce Minister Simon O'Brien has announced a new strategy to boost local content on major resources projects but says mandating minimum requirements would be counter-productive for Western Australia.