Peter Long

The state government has backed plans for a 700-bed workers camp at Karratha, despite opposition from the local community, after Woodside Petroleum launched a website that is meant to boost local employment on future gas projects.

Woodside Petroleum has picked Texas-based Bechtel as the most likely contractor to build a new LNG train at its Pluto facility near Karratha, but has hit a hurdle in approvals for an associated fly-in fly-out camp.

Woodside Petroleum has struck a revised deal with the City of Karratha to build a 604-bed workers camp, but the planning approval time-frame for the project remains uncertain.

Fortescue Metals Group will establish a research and development centre in Karratha to develop autonomous transport for urban areas.

A privately owned WA airline has taken the lead on an innovative new service as the state government continues its review of regional aviation.

Strong mining activity has highlighted the critical housing shortages in resources-rich areas.

Swire Shipping has become the fifth shipping line to commence a direct service into the Pilbara, adding to a trend that will substantially reduce road haulage.

The state has handed over swaths of subsidised land for 44 affordable homes in the housing-strapped resources hub of Karratha, but it will only put a small dent in the waiting list.

WA’s north-west generates enormous wealth for the country but not so much for local communities.

City of Karratha mayor Peter Long has likened regional representation in the upper house to a communist country, while calling on change in the way local government incomes are generated.

Among the huge list of council hopefuls is the usual swag of business people, community heroes, colourful characters and eyebrow-raising pitches which make elections great.

WA’s shires and councils are expanding income sources through necessity and ambition.

The introduction of optional preferential voting for local government elections has caused counting to be a slower process but some councils have announced their 2023 results.

The race for state and federal Liberal Party preselection is beginning to heat up, as some high-profile names flag their interest ahead of two party-defining ballots in 2025.

A Pilbara shire is spruiking the region’s mines and sparse land as ideal desert warfare training grounds as it taps the armed forces to pour funds into an airport expansion.