Mark Beyer

RESIDENTIAL and commercial construction in Karratha is set to grow rapidly after the state government short-listed three companies for what will become the largest new development in the town.

THE potential impact of a carbon price on Western Australian businesses was highlighted by the release of new data last week showing the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.

In front of 850 guests at a black-tie dinner on the South Perth foreshore, internet entrepreneur Zhenya Tsvetnenko was last night named First Amongst Equals winner in WA Business News annual 40under40 awards.

The 40under40 Awards have stood the test of time.

The adversaries in a heated battle over regulation of the franchising industry in Western Australia have used submissions to a parliamentary inquiry to argue their cases.

DRILLING services contractor Boart Longyear has officially opened a manufacturing plant in Forrestfield, one of seven centres servicing its global operations.

WA is a world leader in mining engineering; we should aim for the same ranking in LNG engineering.

THE trend for the private sector to deliver traditional government infrastructure in Western Australia has continued, with a private consortium selected to fund, build and operate a new $300 million water treatment plant at Mundaring.

The adversaries in a heated battle over regulation of the franchising industry in Western Australia have used submissions to a parliamentary inquiry to argue their cases.

Steel fabricators, engineers and unions have started a new campaign to win more work on big resources projects, but they lost the debate six years ago this month.

As the debate over local content on big projects heats up, we need to ask where WA’s competitive edge is and what the government can contribute.

Engineering and construction contractor Marine & Civil is set to emerge from administration after striking a deal with Thiess to establish a new jointly owned company.

Clifford Chance has become the second of London's 'magic circle' law firms to move into the Australian market, today announcing mergers with Perth's Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe and Sydney's Chang, Pistilli & Simmons.

The founder of failed property investment group Westpoint, Norm Carey, was today found guilty of five charges of making false or misleading representations regarding a residential property development in Rivervale.

The outlook for non-residential building construction in WA is weak but the impact on each business will depend on where they sit in the construction cycle.

Recent controversy over a successful technology company highlights the need for a coherent industry policy in WA.

“REPORTS of my death have been greatly exaggerated” is a classic line that could be applied to building construction opportunities in the office and education markets.

TWO of Western Australia’s largest construction companies have been signed up by competing bidders for the $360 million Midland Health Campus project, which is shaping up as an intriguing test of the state government’s support for public private partnersh

THE state government is evaluating a range of alternative contracting and procurement models in the health and corrective services fields, potentially offering new opportunities to building construction companies.

The federal government’s planned flood levy has attracted vigorous debate, but a larger issue is the setting of spending and infrastructure priorities.

Top corporate lawyer Leigh Warnick will be packing his bags at Blake Dawson this week, followed by an extended break before resuming his practice at Lavan Legal in May.

GOLD explorer Doray Minerals had no trouble getting investor support for its recent share purchase plan, with its directors joining other shareholders in backing the capital raising.

GRAIN handler and marketer CBH Group says access to competitive capital will not be a constraint on its growth after deciding to retain its existing cooperative structure.

Canberra’s response to the Queensland flood crisis is a huge political test, and will have a major influence on the national economy.

Good and bad leadership has been displayed on both sides of the country this month.

THE number of new stock market floats in Western Australia rose sharply last year but the growth was impressive only in comparison with the levels that prevailed in 2008 and 2009.

STOCKBROKING is widely perceived to be a lucrative trade, and that is certainly true for the smarter operators, but what is even more interesting is the highly varied performance of major broking firms in Perth.

Every era has buildings that come to define the period.

GOLD explorer Doray Minerals heads a list of 10 Western Australian companies that delivered outstanding returns to investors who backed their capital raisings during the past year.

Patersons Securities has retained top spot in WA Business News’ annual survey of capital raisings, followed by Hartleys, Euroz Securities and Macquarie Capital Advisers.

International engineering firms Granherne and DORIS Engineering have been appointed to manage the pre-FEED (front-end engineering and design) work on the Bonaparte LNG project in the Timor Sea.

WA Business News will be closing today, Thursday 23th December 2010, and will open again on Tuesday 4th January 2011.