Dan Wilkie

OIL and gas giant Chevron and engineering contractor Calibre Global have boosted Perth’s commercial office market, signing major leasing deals in the past two weeks.

A SURGE in demand for short stay accommodation in York has given investors the opportunity to buy into heritage property Settlers House, which has recently undergone a $7 million expansion, taking it from 18 to 88 units.

ROBUST economic conditions and pricing opportunities have seen Western Australia’s commercial and industrial property sectors at the forefront of a global property recovery, according to industry research.

CAVES Road will be home to a new $2.2 million microbrewery, restaurant and cellar door for Ferngrove Vineyard, after the State Administrative Tribunal overturned the Shire of Busselton’s rejection of the project.

OVERSUPPLY in Perth’s residential property market has seen it emerge as the weakest performing in the nation, according to median price analysis.

NATIONAL affordable housing provider Community Housing Limited has pledged to improve the service and maintenance of 273 state-owned dwellings in the East Kimberley, and ultimately provide permanent employment for indigenous locals through the expansion o

Wesfarmers cautions on performance – The Fin; Mt Gibson board row with Chinese owners – The West; Murchison fails to convince investors – The Fin; Shortlist for Perth contract – The Fin; Mining tax windfall shrinks as dollar climbs – The Aus

Shell selldown reawakens BHP designs on Woodside – The West; Rudd 'was close to fixing mining tax' – The Aus; Barnett faces heat over Palmer affair – The West; Swan savings from old promises – The Aus; Three homes repossessed a day in WA – The West

Banks push Labor for tax relief – The Fin; Training levy plan for WA miners – The Fin; Carles deal with premier under scrutiny – The West; Hancock opens test pit in giant coalmine – The Aus; Motorists ripped off by petrol prices: RAC – The West

WA in crisis mode after gas shutdown – The Fin; One man's mining boom is another's bust – The West; Burke to inspect Browse LNG site – The Fin; No move to extend tax talks – The Aus; FMG slates ASIC appeal – The West

Rate rise wrong, says Barnett – The Fin; Kelly wary of reform as bank posts record – The West; Griffin bondholders' plan B – The Fin; Wesfarmers takes $100m hit over rain – The Aus; Emeco secures $450m – The West

MAIN street shopping locations and bulky goods centres are emerging as standout performers in the retail property sector, according to leasing agents.

Perth’s retail property sector is heading into a new era of extended trading hours, expanded centres and more sophisticated retail offerings.

JULIAN Walter might be best known in Western Australia for his building empire but his latest commercial initiative is the agriculture sector, where he wants to build a paddock-to-plate empire under the Cherylton brand.

AFTER a decade during which growth of major suburban shopping centres in Perth fell behind that of eastern states operations, new planning regulations have freed-up development investment and provided the impetus for a change in the way centres are develo

China in plan B talks over Oakajee funding – The West; Barnett pitches WA to banks – The Fin; Griffin bid deadline extended – The West; US deal fails to lift Navitas – The Fin; Chevron floats LNG expansion – The Aus

State Labor pressures Canberra on mining tax – The West; Fresh Sino Iron doubts emerge – The Fin; Big builder warns on Perth recovery – The Fin; Tug of war over WA U-hopeful – The West; Poll showdown for open slather trade on Sundays – The West

Oil hunter fears spill – The Fin; Ripper backs call on GST carve-up review – The Aus; No guarantees over energy goal: minister – The West; Big rise tipped in blocks for housing – The West; Small shops shun late trading – The West

INDUSTRIAL estates across the metropolitan area are evolving into highly specialised industry-specific precincts, with an increased focus on office space and general amenity, according to state government agency LandCorp.

New fit-outs for Downer EDI Engineering and BDO are pushing the boundaries in office interior design. Dan Wilkie reports.

RENEWABLE energy firm Enerji says an agreement with Horizon Power to install its waste heat conversion technology at Horizon’s Carnarvon power station will demonstrate its cost saving capabilities and provide impetus to commercialise the equipment.

OFFICE property analysts have noted a two-speed market emerging in Perth’s central business district, with vacancy rates spiking in the city’s eastern end and supply becoming tight along St Georges Terrace.

THE continued reticence of Australia’s major financial institutions to lend on property is providing opportunities for the syndicated funds sector to become a source of capital, fund managers and developers say.

PERTH’S rapidly developing north eastern corridor has been officially recognised, with new industry research revealing Australia’s fastest growing suburb is the Swan Valley’s Aveley.

Axed contract sparks Sino chaos in Pilbara – The West; Coles to be Wesfarmers insurance spearhead – The Fin; Supplier plays down fears of WA power drain – The Fin; Shelf gas still viable – The Aus; Navitas sell-off an overreaction: CEO – The Fin

Premier vows to join mine tax challenge – The West; Mining job bonanza creates building void – The West; Another nail in BHP, Rio joint venture – The Fin; Union blasts Westpac over WA job cuts – The West; Toodyay legal bid begins – The West

Royalty 'double tax' for miners – The West; CBA likely to lead charge in raising rates – The Aus; Fortescue aims for more access at Port Hedland – The Fin; Waste levy 'is sitting in state coffers' – The West; New clash on gaming machines – The West

Burrup denies any misuse of funds - The Fin; State urged to make NBN uptake compulsory – The West; Infigen-Eurus mull Emu wind farm tilt – The Fin; EC ruling looms for Rio, BHP – The Aus; Brown makes gas hub stand – The West

PERTH-BASED residential developer Cedar Woods has announced the acquisition of a significant parcel of land in Forrestdale.

THE state government’s plans to consolidate its office space and create a justice precinct at St Georges Terrace will underpin the redevelopment of the heritage-listed Old Treasury Building into a boutique hotel, according to Premier Colin Barnett.

THE Housing Industry Association has revised its forecast for WA’s residential construction sector, with its latest statistics showing new home construction will be down by 15 per cent this financial year.

TECHNOLOGY entrepreneur Nathan Buzza is back in Perth looking for new opportunities, 21 months after selling the company he co-founded, Commtech Wireless, to US-based software giant Amcom Software.