Shannon McKenzie

THE natural wonders of the Kimberley are the focus of a tourism industry that is fast becoming the driving force of the State’s far north.

CITY retailers have been unsuccessful in their push to take control of the promotion of the city as a shopping destination, but have been somewhat sated by an alternative proposal by the City of Perth.

HOUSING prices in some South West property markets are growing by up to 18 per cent a year as towns in the region start to appeal as more than just holiday destinations.

DESPITE a long-running awareness campaign, many businesses are still not prepared for the Privacy Act amendments that will become law tomorrow.

It has been a year of mixed fortunes in the Perth property market, with inner city residential developments a real high point and low interest rates driving housing demand.Commercial

THE concept of a central work location is starting to become outdated, with new technologies providing Internet-savvy employees with the opportunity to ‘web-work’ from alternative locations.

WITH Christmas sales up by 2 per cent on last year, WA retailers are hoping the festive cheer is an indication of

THE Western Australian wine industry is going from strength to strength with three cellar door facilities, worth a total of almost $5 million, either having opened within the past week or opening within days.

MEMBERS of the financial services industry are concerned about the effect of new cross-endorsement regulations on the sector when they are introduced as part of the Financial Services Reform Act.

TWO multi-million dollar apartment developments were this week given the green light by the City of Perth, although a $20 million proposal to build a hotel and 140 apartments above Hoyts Cinema City was sent back to the drawing board.

FINBAR International Ltd will continue its ongoing partnership with Wembley Lakes Estates with the $8 million purchase of the Freemasons Grand Lodge site at 78 Terrace Road.

PERTH-BASED computer rental chain Hire Intelligence’s planned float on the Australian Stock Exchange has aroused the interest of several big players.

THE rich history of the Westralia Square site will become a feature of the $300 million campus-style office development.

PERTH retailing icon Sportslane will wind up its business early next year after selling women’s fashion for more than 50 years.

THE State Government is close to accepting a bid from Pac Asia Holdings to take over the development rights to the stalled Port Kennedy tourism resort project.

VENDOR, dummy or shill bidding at auctions has been put under the microscope as the Department of Consumer Protection and Employment examines the Auction Sales Act.

EVOLVING management structures and rapidly changing technologies are forcing workplace environments to become more flexible to ensure they maintain their relevance.

DUTY free stores have lost up to 50 per cent of their business as a result of the global aversion to travel following September’s terrorist attacks in the US.

A PERTH property consortium has unveiled another inner city living project, a $60 million apartment complex at the eastern end of St Georges Terrace.

DEMAND for heavy and special industrial areas will strengthen next year as the State’s resource sector picks up and new value-adding industries emerge in the agricultural sector.

WA-BASED Hillcrest Resources could be the next company to step into the field of waste-to-energy, following its commitment last week of $US50,000 for an option to secure the exclusive rights to use Pyromex PLC technology

DESIGN will be a key issue in the success or failure of the State Government’s proposal to build public housing in the western suburbs.

AN alliance has emerged between conservation groups and developers over the need to develop a form of environmental levy.

THE restoration of Wallpaper World, one of Northbridge’s landmark buildings, is expected to provide impetus for the rejuvenation of Newcastle Street.

CONSUMERS will benefit from increased transparency and protection when the Financial Services Reform Act is introduced on March 11 next year.

JONES Lang LaSalle marketing manager Cathy Turner is the latest addition to the ranks of nominees for the Business News 40 Under 40 program.

THE region from the Goldfields to Esperance may soon become known for more than precious metals and beautiful beaches.

PINDAN Property Group has sold more than a third of the first stage of its $12 million Leeuwin Resort project in Margaret River.

WRF Securities has taken a step toward its goal of becoming a funds manager and financial services entity with the closure last week of its first property syndicate.

THE Old Swan Brewery is finally open.

WESTERN Australian firm Waste Stream Management is planning a $2.5 million inert waste depot in Welshpool that will provide a viable recycling option for construction companies.

THE University of WA and the Water Corporation will head back into mediation talks despite an initial failure to resolve their long-running dispute over university land in Shenton Park.