Dan Wilkie

Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting says its plan to become the first company to export thermal coal from Queensland's Galilee Basin is on track, with the first shipment from the trial Alpha mine set to be shipped to a Korean power station on June 26.

The vendors of a 76-hectare parcel of Baldivis land owned by fallen fertiliser tycoon Pankaj Oswal have extended the original expressions of interest closing date in response to a surge in inquiries, both domestic and international.

Strong growth in engineering construction fuelled by the resources boom is expected to exacerbate skills shortages and increase construction costs over the next two years, the building and construction industry says.

Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell announced today it will go ahead with the world's first floating liquefied natural gas project, off WA's northern coast, at a cost of approximately US$12 billion.

The state budget has largely ignored Western Australia's flagging real estate market, and represents a missed opportunity to back the government's affordable housing strategy with economic stimulus, peak industry bodies say.

Balcatta-based engine technology group Orbital Corp has announced it will acquire a 55 per cent stake in aftermarket LPG fuel systems distributor Sprint Gas for $2.2 million.

Shares in iron ore explorer Fe Limited have risen after it announced positive results from initial exploration at its recently-acquired Mt Ida iron ore project in the Yilgarn.

Cape Lambert Resources has announced a $65 million cash and scrip deal to increase its stake in Africa-focused iron ore explorer Pinnacle Group Assets to over 90 per cent, and has made an additional offer to the remaining shareholders to acquire their int

Opposition Leader Eric Ripper says the state government has sent a bad signal to business by side-stepping the usual environmental assessment procedures and blocking iron ore exports from Fremantle Port.

Perth-based minerals explorer Lithex has successfully listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, after its initial public offering closed oversubscribed to raise $4 million.

BC Iron has released the independent expert's report that shaped its decision to terminate a takeover deal with Hong Kong's Regent Pacific on the basis that the offer did not provide adequate value.

There will be no recovery this financial year or next for Western Australia's sputtering housing construction sector, with dwelling starts tipped to drop 21 per cent on last year's figures, according to the state government's top forecaster.

Lynas Corp has rejected media speculation surrounding a third-party offer for its Crown and Swan rare earths deposits in the Pilbara.

Catalpa Resources has told its shareholders to adopt a 'wait-and-see' approach in the wake of an unsolicited $350 million takeover bid from gold miner St Barbara.

The number of home loans approved in March rose by 2.1 per cent on February in Western Australia, in contrast to a 10-year low in housing finance approvals nationally.

Brockman Resources has failed in its bid to resist a takeover offer by Hong Kong investment house Wah Nam International, which has received acceptances taking its stake up to 52 per cent in the Pilbara iron ore miner.

A joint venture between Texas-based engineering and construction group Fluor Corporation and Sinclair Knight Merz has extended its relationship with BHP Billiton, winning new contracts, primarily for the expansion of BHP's Jimblebar iron ore mine.

Cazaly Resources is proposing to export iron ore from its Parker Range project through Fremantle and Esperance after missing out on a port allocation at the Kwinana bulk terminal.

Murchison Metals has beefed up its board with the appointment of four independent non-executive directors, and flagged the appoinment on an independent chairman.

A dispute over coal supplies could disrupt electricity generation from Griffin Power's Bluewaters power station near Collie, which supplies about 10 per cent of Western Australia's electricity.

Millennium Minerals says mining will commence in the first quarter of next year at its Nullagine gold project in the Pilbara, after securing $10 million in new finance facilities.

Perth's rental market appears to be running at two speeds, with a massive drop in median rents in the inner city holding back a metropolitan market which grew by 4.4 per cent over the past quarter, a new report says.

Woodside Petroleum has announced ExxonMobil executive Peter Coleman as the successor to departing chief executive Don Voelte.

INTERNATIONAL outsourcing company Serco has continued to build a diversified business in Western Australia after winning a state government contract to provide prisoner transport, court security and custodial services.

CORPORATE insolvencies rose in March to reach an all-time high in Western Australia, with accountants and industry analysts tipping the situation will only get worse over the short term.

The residential building industry says the federal budget doesn't do enough to tackle the nation's housing shortage, while Australia's peak urban development industry group says it was "underwhelmed" by its content.

James Packers Crown Ltd has increased its commitment to Burswood Casino, announcing the purchase of the Holiday Inn for $79 million and the creation of three new bars and a cafe under a new $91 million redevelopment plan.

Perth-based minerals explorer Red October Resources says it is looking for project acquisitions after making a promising debut on the Australian Securities Exchange yesterday.

Leighton Contractors has announced the signing of a key deal for its plan to build a 4,800 kilometre high-speed cable connection linking Perth and Singapore, and says the link will be operational by 2013.

Explosives and fertiliser supplier Incitec Pivot says it will build a $40 million ammonium nitrate emulsion plant at Port Hedland after booking a 25 per cent lift in first half profit.

The Bob Browning-led investment company Australasia Consolidated has made its first acquisition, with the purchase of John Battley's pre-paid transaction services business eMerchants for up to $28 million.

Atlas Iron has announced a new agreement which will allow it to expand capacity at its Wodgina iron ore mine in the Pilbara by 75 per cent.