Staff Reporters

While residential construction is declining across the nation, Western Australia's new home building sector has bucked the trend with a 1.5 per cent rise over the December quarter.

LandCorp is seeking a development partner for the northern 120 hectares of its Eglinton landholding in Perth's northern corridor.

Shares in Gindalbie Metals shot up more than nine per cent after the company announced an expansion of its Karara iron ore project and the appointment of a new chief executive.

A Perth-based supplier registration system for the Australian oil and gas industry is to be acquired by Achilles, a global supplier information management service to the industry.

The owners of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline and the industry regulator are at odds on the tariff increases users of the pipeline should have to pay.

Western Australia has been ranked in the top 20 mining jurisdictions in the world for attracting investment, a new survey shows.

Norton Gold Fields has completed the sale of its Sienna and Electra coal projects in Queensland to coal magnate Nathan Tinkler's Boardwalk Resources subsidiary, Boardwalk Sienna.

TNG has appointed global engineering firm Sinclair Knight Merz to complete a pre-feasibility study at its Mount Peak iron and vanadium project in the Northern Territory.

Jupiter Mines says it will spend $1.6 billion to develop its Mt Ida iron ore project in Western Australia's central Yilgarn.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell has announced a joint venture between Downer EDI Works and Mouchel International will take on a long-term road maintenance contract in the Mid West and Gascoyne.

Azimuth Resources has launched plans to raise $9.5 million through a placement and share purchase plan, to progress work programs at its Guyana gold exploration projects.

Perth-based Galaxy Resources has postponed its initial public offering in Hong Kong until further notice due to unfavourable market conditions.

Perth-based Continental Coal says exports of thermal coal from its Ferreira mine in South Africa are set to increase over the March quarter.

Malaga-based D&G Hoists & Cranes and two of its directors have been fined a total of $180,000 over the death of a 22-year old worker in October 2007.

Singapore Exchange has lodged a formal application to the Foreign Investment Review Board regarding its proposed $8.4 billion merger with the Australian Securities Exchange.

Sheffield Resources has completed the purchase of the rights to three heavy mineral sands mining leases and a retention license from Iluka Resources.

The state government has awarded a $45.9 million contract to Pindan Construction to build a new Governor Stirling High School in Woodbridge.

Training and Workforce Development minister Peter Collier says a new $23 million trades training centre in Clarkson will fill a significant gap in training opportunities in the northern corridor.

Global marine safety equipment company Mobilarm has entered a deal to supply VHF locator beacons to Apache Energy, for use at the North West Shelf.

Sandalwood producer TFS Corporation says it will be debt free once it completes a $37.9 million share placement and rights issue.

Moly Mines has announced the extension of its Port Utah access agreement until September 2015.

Subiaco-based TNG says it has raised $2.8 million to accelerate the development of its Mount Peake iron-vanadium project in the Northern Territory.

The Australian Greens say they will oppose any moves to compensate mining giants under a carbon price, amid calls from Rio Tinto that business will struggle to adapt, and from Woodside Petroleum, which says its exports should be exempt from the tax.

Lanco Infratech says it will increase production at Griffin's coal mines near Collie by a factor of four, after it completed the $750 million acquisition of the assets.

Singaporean engineering firm MTQ now holds a 12 per cent stake in Neptune Marine, after the struggling shipbuilder and engineering firm announced it had reached the minimum subscription level in its $80.6 million capital raising.

Two Angus & Robertson stores will be closed in Perth in the wake of the collapse of REDGroup Retail, its and Borders bookstores' parent company.

Building approvals fell in Western Australia over January, but WA fared better than most of the rest of the nation, according to the Housing Industry Association.

Perth-based IT services provider ASG Group has announced it has signed a five-year contract to provide IT services to an electricity utility.

Strategic Marine has expanded its exposure to the booming north-west, after winning a contract to build a 27-metre work barge for Karratha-based Offshore Plant Hire.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union boss Kevin Reynolds will step down at Christmas after nearly 40 years at the head of WA's construction union.

A joint venture between Leighton Contractors and Opus International Consultants has been awarded a $191 million, five-year maintenance contract for the Wheatbelt South and Wheatbelt North regional road networks.

Perth-based apartments giant Finbar has obtained development approval to commence construction of the first residential high-rise project in Karratha.