Dan Wilkie

THE Pilbara Cities initiative is providing property development firms with opportunities to expand beyond their normal scope of operations, according to a prominent Western Australian developer.

WESTERN Australia’s construction industry labour force is the most efficient in the nation, new statistics have revealed.

THE City of Subiaco has taken a significant step towards the amalgamation of its council after it entered an agreement with the City of Nedlands, which could see both councils merged by 2013.

THE residential building sector is concerned about the sustainability of a new home building recovery in Western Australia, according to new industry research.

WA-based West African gold explorer Gryphon Minerals has announced a friendly all-scrip takeover bid for fellow West African gold player Shield Mining.

AUDITOR General Colin Murphy is concerned that the Fiona Stanley Hospital project could be delayed and its cost could blow-out as a result of insufficient transition and workforce planning.

THE Town of Claremont has moved a step further towards the revitalisation of underused land between the train station and Claremont Oval, with the Western Australian Planning Commission approving the structure plan for the Claremont north-east precinct on

WESTERN Australian builders are experiencing teething problems with the transition to new builders’ warranty insurers, which the industry expects will result in higher costs for property buyers as the market adjusts to the withdrawal of the sector’s large

Paddi Creevey says the individual honour of an OAM is testament to the first-rate work of her colleagues.

THE Australian Institute of Architects has named Saint Mary’s Cathedral at Victoria Square the outstanding Western Australian building project of 2010.

As the Western Australian commercial construction industry heads towards the end of a boom period, the major players are spreading their wings in search of the big jobs.

THE $6 million restoration program of William Street in Northbridge, which is approaching completion, has attracted some of Perth’s most notable hospitality operators including restaurateur and Little World Beverages director Nic Trimboli.

AN array of government-funded building projects, including theatres, Tafe colleges and police centres is boosting the order books of construction firms in Western Australia.

TWO years ago, Perth’s skyline was littered with cranes and the city was in the midst of a commercial office construction boom.

PERTH’S six western suburbs councils have expressed their concerns to Premier Colin Barnett over the proposed introduction of development assessment panels.

THIS year’s state budget provided a number of highlights for Western Australia’s sporting diehards.

IT is without a doubt the largest construction site in metropolitan Perth, sprawling over an area three times the size of Subiaco Oval.

Auditor General Colin Murphy says urgent action needs to be taken to avoid further cost blowouts or time delays on the $1.76 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital project.

The Western Australian arm of national construction giant Probuild has been named preferred builder to take over from Salta Constructions at stalled high-rise office tower Raine Square.

THE City of Perth has put owners of neglected and vacant buildings in Northbridge on notice, warning them to put redevelopment plans in place or risk having to tear the buildings down.

SARACEN Properties is aiming to sign up a new builder this month for its stalled commercial office tower Raine Square, which has been shut down for the past few months.

THE state government will use its reorganisation of office leasing commitments to underpin the development of activity centres under the state planning framework, Directions 2031.

HOUSING Minister Bill Marmion is getting set to release a “significant” number of lots in order to ensure adequate short-term land supply for housing.

The state government's reorganisation of office leasing commitments could result in a duplication of Dumas House in West Perth and the creation of several department-specific government precincts in the CBD.

Western Australia’s top employers realise happy workers are productive workers.

Demand for office developments outside the CBD is spiking as top-quality buildings hit the market at the right price.

BEING a good employer is not about providing everyday staff perks; rather it involves committing to what the organisation can do better for its people.

WESTERN Australia’s homebuilders and renovators did it tough during 2008-09 despite rapid national population growth, according to a new report by the Housing Industry Association.

The Master Builders Association has warned the state government’s decision to place builders’ warranty insurance in the hands of two providers will result in rising costs of construction, which will ultimately be passed on to homebuyers.

NEW office developments and demand from the mining sector will result in a finely balanced year for Perth’s CBD office market, according to the latest research from analysts CB Richard Ellis.

CONSTRUCTION of the $2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital is on track, with Health Minister Kim Hames unveiling the final hospital designs last week.

THE Property Council of Australia says the state government’s development plan for Hope Valley’s Latitude 32 industrial zone is a good first step to alleviating long-term industrial land shortages, but falls short in addressing short-term needs.