Jessica Mascione

Global manufacturer Alstom has signed a 10-year contract to assemble new railcars at Midland as part of the Metronet project, with the government saying the railcars will be delivered 22 per cent below its budget at $1.25 billion.

The Environmental Protection Authority has released a new draft greenhouse gas emissions guideline, which substantially softens the initial draft guideline announced earlier this year.

Rare earth producer Lynas Corporation intends to sublease an industrial zoned property from the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, three months after signing an agreement with the mining town to review potential sites for its cracking and leaching plant.

The investment intentions of Western Australian farmers remain the highest in the country despite sentiment dropping to multi-year lows, according to Rabobank Australia’s latest rural confidence su

Aged care and retirement living provider Bethanie has acquired Berrington Care Group's Subiaco and Como centres, which it expects to operate early next year. The sale comes five months after Berrington went into administration.

Salt Lake Potash has secured further funding for the development of its Lake Way project in Western Australia after receiving commitments to raise $23.5 million from a share placement, along with a $22 million debt extension from Taurus Funds Management.

Global mining-tech company Imdex has exercised its option to acquire New Zealand-based Flexidrill, after gaining the option early last year, for a further payment of $NZ3 million cash.

Primero Group has secured three new construction contracts, including a $115 million arrangement with Rio Tinto, while also announcing a capital raising of $7.6 million.

Western Australia recorded the highest mortgage delinquency rate in the year to May of 3.38 per cent, while the Australian average was 1.94 per cent, according to a report from Moody's Investors Service.

Malaga-based Frontline Fire & Rescue Equipment has been awarded two contracts, valued at $75 million and $50 million, from the state government to manufacture modern firefighting vehicles.

Pioneer Credit has named US investment group Carlyle as preferred bidder to acquire the business, at a price of $1.82 per share, a large discount to the company’s latest closing price of $2.46 per share.

Panoramic Resources has formally rejected the takeover bid from Independence Group and confirmed it is seeking to raise $31 million to fund its operations, including the underperforming Savannah nickel mine.

Legacy Iron Ore has received commitments to raise $11.74 million through a four-for-one rights issue, primarily to accelerate production at the Mt Celia gold project in Western Australia.

The state government has announced a 10-year homeless strategy, with $72 million to fund the construction of two facilities in Perth to house people experiencing chronic homelessness.

Bio-therapeutic company Orthocell has received commitments to raise $13 million from a share placement and up to a further $5 million from a share purchase plan, primarily to accelerate the commercialisation of its CelGro flagship product.

Rio Tinto has approved a $US1.5 billion investment to continue production at its Kennecott copper mine in the US, while also announcing it will limit operations at one of its minerals projects in South Africa, following an attack on two of its employees.

Western Australian company Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils has won the small business award at this year’s Australian Exporter of the Year event, held at Parliament House in Canberra last night.

Western Australia’s property sector has welcomed the state government's announcement of a $150 million housing investment package for first home buyers and low income earners.

Perenti Global subsidiary Barminco has piloted its new remote operations centre with a Goldfields mine, following several successful trials earlier this year.

Junior explorer Ausgold has received commitments to raise $2.4 million through a share placement and up to $1.2 million via a share purchase plan to fast-track exploration at the company’s Katanning gold project in Western Australia.

Perth-based Danakali will receive a $US50 million investment from Africa Finance Corporation to fund the development and construction of its Colluli potash project in West Africa.

The housing recovery has finally reached Perth, with dwelling values edging 0.4 per cent higher in November to record the city’s first month-on-month rise since early last year, according to the latest report from CoreLogic.

Perenti Global will exit from two Burkina Faso operations following an ambush on its employees last month, but will continue operating three other mines in the country. The contractor also announced today several new contracts in Australia and Africa.

One day after the federal government’s so-called union-busting laws failed to pass the Senate, the CFMEU has sought to turn the focus on construction boss Gerry Hanssen whose company was fined in the Federal Court today.

Uranium explorer Peninsula Energy is planning a $9.1 million capital raising to fund costs associated with its mines in the US, while De Grey Mining is planning to raise $5 million to fund exploration activities at its Mallina gold project, near Port Hedland.

Vysarn has appointed former AFL player and Sea Harvest managing director James Clement to lead the company next year, three weeks after he was added to the Fremantle Dockers board of directors.

Empired shares have risen more than 8 per cent today after the IT services provider forecasted an increase in net profit and earnings per share for the current financial year, on the back of a $200 million pipeline of multi-year contracts to contest.

West Perth-based Vysarn announced it has entered a two-year drilling and construction agreement with Fortescue Metals Group for works across its mine sites in the Pilbara.

Alkane Resources has received commitments to raise $20 million through a share placement, and up to $34.8 million through a 1-for-8 rights issue, to accelerate exploration and development programs in the Tomingley gold corridor in New South Wales.

NRW Holdings has purchased BGC Contracting for $116.4 million in cash, three weeks after it was named preferred bidder, and plans a capital raising of $130 million to fund the transaction.

West Perth-based Catalyst Metals has received commitments to raise $7.9 million through a share placement, backed by Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting, to accelerate its Four Eagles and Tandarra gold projects in Victoria.

Rio Tinto has approved a $1 billion investment in its Pilbara iron ore operations, including the rollout of more autonomous trucks, on the same day the state government urged Canberra to support changes designed to fast track approvals for major resources projects.