Dan Wilkie

WHILE many businesses in the west are bracing for the economically stifling impact of impending skills shortages, Skill Hire chief executive Stephen Edgar sees opportunity.

A NEW library and public plaza at Cathedral Square and an injection of funding to complete the Forrest Square redevelopment have highlighted the City of Perth’s $80 million capital works budget, which was passed by the council last week.

Perth's prestige western suburbs, notably Mosman Park, have been ranked among the nation's worst 25 performing suburbs within capital cities, with median house prices falling most comparitively since the peaks of the property boom.

Perth's office market has experienced a complete shift in sentiment over the March quarter, with increased confidence in the local economy leading to a rebound in tenant demand for office space, according to new research.

Catalpa Resources will buy Conquest Mining to form a $1.1 billion growth-focused gold miner, in which gold giant Newcrest Mining will hold a one-third stake.

Mining driller Ausdrill has expanded its reach into coal seam gas exploration drilling with the announcement of several contract wins collectively worth $84 million.

Flights to and from Perth Airport are expected to resume on Thursday morning, after a day of disruption that saw 13 airlines cancel or delay services, affecting nearly 200 domestic and international flights.

Castle Minerals stocks have soared after it announced a significant new gold discovery at its Baayari prospect in north-west Ghana.

Mining contractor MACA has upgraded its earnings guidance, telling shareholders it now expects full year profit to be in the order of $27 million to $30 million, up from the $23.1 million flagged in its prospectus forecast.

Territory Resources' board of directors has unanimously recommended its shareholders accept the $133 million takeover bid offered by Hong Kong commodities trading house Noble Group.

Construction and development firm Diploma Group has vehemently denied claims from the state's largest construction union that workers were not being paid at the Queens Riverside development in East Perth.

Perth-based Oakajee Corporation's subsidiary, Oakajee Investments, has announced plans for a $3.4 million initial public offering and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange as part of an agreement to acquire ATM business EZE ATM.

Vmoto shares have staged a promising flurry after the Perth-based motor scooter manufacturer released a market update that revealed a drop in operating expenses of 33 per cent, despite a significant fall in full-year turnover.

Earthmoving solutions provider Emeco Holdings has announced a $165 million investment in large mining equipment to take advantage of surging demand for equipment rentals, but has also flagged a drop in full year profits.

Perth-based gold and copper hopeful Naracoota Resources says it expects to list on the Australian Securities Exchange on June 14 after its $5 million initial public offering closed early and oversubscribed.

Territory Resources shares have jumped by 10 per cent after Noble Group trumped South African miner Exxaro Resources $123 million takeover bid, launching its own unconditional all-cash offer that values Territory around $133 million.

A modest improvement in home lending in April has done little to help a struggling sector in desperate need of short-term stimulus, the new home building industry says.

Territory Resources chairman Andrew Simpson says Exxarro Resource's proposed $123 million takeover offer will rob shareholders of the opportunity to enjoy the spoils of the company's ongoing development.

West Australian Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has called the federal government's decision to suspend all live cattle exports to Indonesia "hasty", saying the $250 million industry is now at risk of collapse.

Engineering and project delivery firm Calibre Global has ramped up its eastern states expansion with the acquisition of Melbourne-based Minerva Engineers for an undisclosed sum.

Another economic indicator is pointing to a two-speed economy at play in Western Australia, with new car sales dropping off 21.6 per cent in April, following a 17.9 per cent drop in May.

Crescent Gold says it has fast-tracked plans to begin mining operations at its Apollo deposit, near Laverton, after it announced a maiden gold reserve of 54,000 ounces.

Sandfire Resources has continued the rapid development of its $384 million DeGrussa copper-gold project, signing up Abesque Engineering and Australian Contract Mining to provide mining services and a processing plant.

Lands developer Goodman Group says it will build a $55.8 million, 27,000 square metre logistics facility at its Stockyards Industrial Estate in Hazelmere for trucking giant Linfox.

Port Bouvard has surged on news that it has now sold 25 of the 66 apartments at Oceanique, as negotiations continue with St George Bank over a key banking covenant, and the developer forges on with its flagship community Point Grey.

Diversified Perth-based conglomerate Wesfarmers has approved additional investment to bring forward the $550 million expansion of its ammonium nitrate facility at Kwinana.

Industry groups have expressed their disappointment in a decision handed down by Fair Work Australia today, saying it paves the way for minority groups to create "carnage" in the workplace and creates more risks.

The heritage listed Newspaper House, being redeveloped as part of City Square, will feature a rooftop bar, a top-flight restaurant and a range of bars across four floors under a long-term deal Brookfield Office Properties has announced with Colonial Leisu

Fortescue Metals Group's new chief executive has announced an ambitious target before he even begins his new role, saying the company plans to bring forward its iron ore production target of 155 million tonnes per annum by up to a year.

Residents at Diploma Group's latest city apartment development no longer have to stress about finding an empty parking space when they come home - the carpark does it for them.

A stand-off between Pankaj Oswal and his business partner, Norwegian company Yara International, has prompted Yara to halt its plans for a $US700 million ammonium nitrate plant on the Burrup Peninsula.

Phoenix Gold shares have risen after the Kalgoorlie-based gold explorer announced a doubling of resource estimates at its Castle Hill gold project in the eastern Goldfields.