Fraser Beattie

Local explorer Empire Resources is set to begin operations at its Penny’s Find gold project near Kalgoorlie, after contracting NRW Holdings to undertake mining operations at the open pit.

Pool and spa maintenance franchise Poolwerx Corporation has taken home two top accolades at the Franchise Council of Australia’s Excellence in Franchising Awards.

Perth-based contractor Macmahon Holdings has flagged a hit to its earnings for the year after terminating its contract in Nigeria and incurring losses at Newcrest Mining’s Telfer gold mine in WA.

Vocus Communications boss Geoff Horth has survived a proposal to remove him from the helm of the firm by Perth venture capitalist Anthony Grist and Vocus founder James Spenceley.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management has been appointed by the corporate watchdog to sell a portion of shares in Sovereign Gold Company held by former Applabs Technologies directors which were found to have been acquired invalidly.

Professional services firm Deloitte has bolstered its energy and resources practice in Western Australia with two new appointments.

Curtin University has announced a collaboration agreement with Victora-based Gekko Systems to commercialise new technology designed to make gold processing more efficient.

Power generation company Pacific Energy’s second-largest shareholder has sold its $50 million stake in the business to a number of undisclosed investors.

Mozambique-focused graphite explorer Metals of Africa has recruited former Atlas Iron boss David Flanagan as its new chairman.

Work will start on the controversial $540 million Roe 8 highway extension project before the next state election, with a consortium led by CIMIC Group to be awarded a contract for the project in the coming days.

The federal government has promised an "arms-length" decision on Gina Rinehart and Shanghai CRED’s joint $365 million bid for cattle empire S. Kidman & Co, which will still require foreign investment approval.

Troubled iron ore miner BC Iron has sold its majority stake in the Nullagine joint venture to Fortescue Metals Group for just $1, along with some royalty payments.

Austal has been contracted to provide maintenance work on patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy for an undisclosed sum.

Eastern Goldfields has withdrawn its $6 million share subscription agreement proposal put forward to Windward Resources, following Independence Group’s $20.5 million takeover bid lodged last week.

Changes to freeway merging lanes have provided a welcome boost to Perth drivers, with the recent changes improving traffic flow and cutting journey times.

Perth-based Hillcrest Litigation Services is transforming into a baby food company after signing an agreement to acquire the manufacturer of Bubs Organic products.

Perth-based Trident Capital has been brought in to advise an Israeli technology company on its $6 million inital public offering and listing on the ASX.

WA Labor plans to ban fracking in the South West, but will not ban the drilling technique in other areas such as the Kimberley and the Mid West where it has been undertaken.

Perth-based Lithium Australia has announced plans to raise up to $12.6 million to fund ongoing exploration work at a number of its projects.

Pilbara Minerals plans to expand its Pilgangoora lithium portfolio with the acquisition of Dakota Minerals’ Lynas Find project for up to $8 million.

Perth-based surveying and construction contractor OTOC has raised $12 million from investors to fund its future growth plans.

Western Australia’s car retail industry has once again been taken to the panel beaters after new figures showed another slump in new vehicle sales.

Independence Group has put forward a $20.5 million bid for emerging nickel play Windward Resources, competing against a previous deal put forward by Michael Fotios’s Eastern Goldfields.

Cottesloe-based Quickflix will fall under new ownership when its voluntary administrators sell the business to a US company for $1.3 million.

Innovation Minister Bill Marmion has named the three inaugural winners of the Start IT Up WA Challenge, with the teams to share in a $100,000 prize pool to develop their projects in collaboration with the state government.

RCR Tomlinson managing director Paul Dalgleish is no longer a substantial shareholder in the engineering group after selling $5.2 million worth of shares.

Heavy earthmoving equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has shrugged off a credit rating downgrade from Fitch Ratings, with managing director Ian Testrow saying the market should focus on the big picture of the company’s merger and restructuring plan.

Perth dwelling values tumbled by 2.5 per cent last month to their lowest level in nine years as weak demand continued to cripple the housing sector in Western Australia.

Perth-based biotechnology company Metavone hopes to list on the ASX next month after raising up to $5 million from investors in an initial public offering.

The Western Australian arm of WHBO Group has won a contract to carry out upgrades across a large section of the Great Eastern Highway, in a project worth a total of $36 million.

PS Structures has won a $32.6 million contract to build the first stage of a new secondary college in Yanchep.

The state government has given its tick of approval for Rio Tinto to develop more iron ore deposits at the mining giant’s Western Turner Syncline operation near Tom Price.