Fraser Beattie

Local explorer Riversgold has begun trading on the ASX after raising $6.1 million from investors by way of an initial public offer.

Takeover target Aphrodite Gold has flagged an impairment charge of up to $19 million against its self-titled gold project near Kalgoorlie, but says it will not affect the value of its all-scrip merger with Perth-based Spitfire Materials.

Austal has won a $190 million contract to build two ferries for a Spanish client, along with an order for a 15th littoral combat ship for the US Navy for an undisclosed sum, but the company has yet to decide whether the two ferries will be built at its Henderson shipyard or overseas.

Carnegie Clean Energy has secured a $7.5 million debt facility with a Cottesloe-based investment group to assist with development of a 10-megawatt solar power station in Northam.

The joint venture partners of the Wheatstone LNG facility near Onslow have hailed first production, with the first of two gas processing trains coming online today.

Local resources executive Vanessa Guthrie has been appointed to the board of uranium explorer Vimy Resources as a nominated representative of fund manager Resource Capital Funds.

A modular car park construction company chaired by former Automotive Holdings Group boss Bronte Howson has announced plans to raise $6 million from investors and list on the ASX.

Lithium-focused Altura Mining has raised $26 million from investors as it prepares for a second-stage development of its flagship project in the Pilbara.

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Energy giants Chevron Australia and Woodside Petroleum have jointly acquired three exploration tenements offshore Western Australia from the government for an undisclosed sum.

Lithium explorer Argosy Minerals has announced a $17 million capital raising that will replace a previously announced $26 million investment in the business by a Chinese offtake partner.

Empire Resources has become Western Australia’s newest gold producer, after achieving its first gold pour from its Penny’s Find mine near Kalgoorlie.

New car sales in Western Australia dipped back into the red last month after showing rare signs of improvement in August.

Perth-based education provider Navitas has acquired an English language college in New Zealand for $NZ 5 million ($A4.5 million).

The premier has dismissed claims that almost 3,000 jobs would be lost under the state government’s planned gold royalty hike, after a report claimed that five existing mines were at risk of closing if the royalty was enacted.

Litigation funder IMF Bentham has committed $30 million towards two new investment vehicles, which will have a combined pool of $150 million.

Junior miner Tanami Gold has entered into an agreement for the sale of its Western Tanami gold project in the Northern Territory to Northern Star Resources for $4 million in cash.

Aspiring gold miner KIN Mining has released a definitive feasibility study on its Leonora project in the Goldfields, which has forecast a development cost of about $35 million.

Canada's Kirkland Lake Gold, which is a major backer of TSX-listed Novo Resources Corporation - the company at the centre of a mini gold rush in the Pilbara - has thrown its weight behind Perth-based explorer De Grey Mining, which is one of several local explorers active in the same area.

Perth house prices ticked up slightly last month but were still down over the past three months, as the national property market loses steam.

Northbridge-based video game and virtual reality company Stirfire Studios has failed in its bid to complete a $7 million initial public offering and list on the ASX, but has pencilled in a second attempt for next year.

Pilbara Minerals has secured an offtake and $28 million equity deal with Chinese car maker Great Wall, effectively replacing a previous financial commitment from one of the aspiring miner’s other offtake partners.

Gold explorer Okapi Resources has enjoyed fruitful gains on its first day as a listed company, which came nine months after its directors attempted to float the business as Huntsman Resources.

Two indigenous business joint ventures have been awarded a combined $5.9 million worth of contracts in the Pilbara.

Listed exploration companies increased their spending in the three months to June, according to a new report by accounting and corporate advisory firm BDO.

The West Coast Eagles will not be part of the AFL Women’s competition in 2019, after the league postponed the club’s entry until the following season.

Property group Stockland has attracted Optus for the top floor of its office building on Victoria Avenue in the CBD, with the telco giant to also take up naming and signage rights.

Global Construction Services has entered into an agreement for the sale of its equipment hire division to Onsite Rental Group for an undisclosed sum.

SPECIAL REPORT: Blackham Resources has overcome a number of hurdles following its transition from explorer to producer, while the state’s emerging miners wrapped-up a busy 12 months.

The state government has given the green light for a luxury camping retreat on Rottnest Island, to be developed by Baileys Group, which has also bought the former Aristos restaurant on the island after selling the Rottnest Express ferry service late last year.

SPECIAL REPORT: The gold royalty hike proposed in this month’s state budget has stunned the sector, amid big spending plans for the year ahead.

Local agribusiness Wellard has promoted non-executive director Fred Troncone to an executive position on the board, as its founder and chief executive committed to remaining with the company until at least the end of the year.