Premier Colin Barnett's mission to include China in the development of the Oakajee port and rail project has prompted an outcry from the local steel industry, which has appealed to the opposition for help.
Shares in Murchison Metals have surged as much as 24 per cent today after the miner clarified the extent of talks with China over the Oakajee port and rail project.
Shares in Murchison Metals have been placed in a trading halt pending confirmation of construction contracts for the Oakajee port and associated rail, which are to be awarded to two Chinese firms.
WESTERN Power and Verve Energy are shaping for a fight over increases in electricity network charges recommended by the independent market regulator last week.
PART of the third stage of the contentious Pretty Pool development at Port Hedland has been stalled by the environmental watchdog, which ruled it threatened a nesting site for flatback turtles.
Property developer Port Bouvard has booked a $29 million net loss for the 2009 financial year which includes a more than $30 million asset impairment charge as a result of a weakening property market.
The Economic Regulation Authority has knocked back Western Power's request to allow big increases in the price it charges for access to the state's main electricity grid for the next three years.
Opposition energy spokesman Mark McGowan today called on the state government to end 10 months of uncertainty surrounding the possible re-merger of Verve Energy and Synergy.
STATE Energy Minister Peter Collier has denied the government is preparing to abandon Premier Colin Barnett's mooted re-amalgamation of Verve Energy with Synergy.
The company in charge of the billion-dollar Oakajee deepwater port and rail network has appointed WorleyParsons to conduct the budget and engineering components of the $100 million bankable feasibility study.
WESTERN Australia's business community has given cautious approval to initiatives proposed at last week's Council of Australian Government (Coag) meeting, aimed at streamlining the approvals process for taxpayer-assisted major infrastructure developments.
WESTERN Australia's construction sector has been boosted with the awarding of $342 million in contracts to builders across the state as part of the federal government's infrastructure funding program.
Barnett backs 9pm retail trading PREMIER Colin Barnett has announced that he will introduce a bill paving the way for retail trading hours to be extended to 9pm on weeknights.
