Staff Reporters

Iron ore company Centaurus Metals has appointed George Jones as a strategic consultant as the company moves towards production from its Brazilian iron ore projects.

Newmont Mining has agreed to be a cornerstone investor in Middle Island Resources, which is planning a $12.5 million initial public offering and hopes to list on the Australian Securities Exchange later this year.

Sandfire Resources has announced another resource upgrade for its DeGrussa Copper-Gold project near Meekatharra.

A Brookfield Multiplex and Laing O'Rourke joint venture and a joint venture between John Holland and GHD have been short-listed as the final proponents for the $600 million rail component of the Perth City Link Project.

Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers has received Commonwealth approval for its Collie Urea project.

Northern Uranium hopes to raise $6.6 million in a renounceable rights issue to fund its ongoing uranium and rare earth explorations.

Civil contractor Brierty has appointed Tony Bevan as CEO for six months following the resignation of Stuart Crofts last month.

Atlas Iron has begun delivering ore to the new Utah Port from the Wodgina and Pardoo mines in the North Pilbara.

Fortescue Metals boss Andrew Forrest and Independent MP Rob Oakeshott have talked about the idea of a Taxation Summit during a meeting today.

Julia Gillard's chances of remaining prime minister have been boosted, with Independent MP Andrew Wilkie saying he will back a Labor minority government, one day after independent Tony Windsor questioned the coalition's credentials.

The shires of Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham-East Kimberley have agreed to talk about how they can work more closely together.

Perth-based Clough Limited has announced that the Clough Curtain joint venture has received firm work orders worth $250 million associated with its upstream infrastructure contract for the PNG LNG plant.

Galaxy Resources has begun commissioning its Mt Cattlin lithium concentrate processing plant near Ravensthorpe.

Northern Star Resources says it has slashed its debt associated with the acquisition of the Paulsens gold mine by more than $4 million.

Atlas Iron has announced a pre-feasibility study has strongly supported its plan to set up a centralized processing and haulage point in the Pilbara.

Premier Colin Barnett has released a master plan for the Kimberley gas precinct, just north of Broome, on the same day he announced his government will compulsorily acquire the site for the project.

The state government has announced new nature conservation and mining arrangements for the Mt Manning area, north of Southern Cross following extensive work by the departments of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Mines and Petroleum.

PERTH company TSmarine Asia Pacific has lived up to the ‘coals to Newcastle’ adage, signing a three-year contract with international oilfield service company Expro that has a potential value of $100 million.

Seven telcos have joined forces and proposed a new national broadband plan which broadly corresponds with the Coalition's policy.

Canstar Cannex has named ANZ Bank as the financial institution offering the best value to small business in 2010.

Former Fosters Group president and chief executive officer Trevor O'Hoy has joined the board of IT services provider ASG Group.

The state government says it will be asking for expressions of interest from developers interested in partnering it to develop land at Eglinton, in Perth's northern suburbs.

Little World Beverages is looking to expand its operations in the eastern states.

Coote Industrial has posted a $124.6 million net loss after tax for the 2010 financial year, after incurring $118.9 million worth of impairments, writedowns and losses on the sale of assets.

Perth-based business publisher Aspermont has recorded a net profit after tax of $1.1 million for the 2010 financial year up from a loss of $484,000 in the previous year.

LinQ Resources has reported an improved profit result, one week after announcing the company would be taking a more activist approach to future investments.

Nomad Building Solutions has recorded a $10.7 million net loss after tax for the 2010 financial year, less than two weeks after forecasting an $8 million full-year loss.

Grange Resources has announced a slump in its 2010 full year net profit to $42.2 million down from $86 million for the previous corresponding period.

WA National Tony Crook has attended a meeting of the federal National Party in Canberra where he has outlined his goals and objectives.

Rio Tinto and its joint venture partner Hancock Prospecting will invest $US1.6 billion to develop the Hope Downs 4 iron ore project and link it with existing rail, power and port infrastructure in the Pilbara.

Perth-based Clough and Bam International have secured a $US258 million contract for the design and construction of a LNG and condensate offloading jetty for the PNG LNG project.

The state government has mandated for at least 47 per cent of new residential development to occur in established urban areas under the new planning framework, Directions 2031 and Beyond, which was released today.