Infrastructure

After a quiet period, ambitions for a deepwater port in Exmouth have a fresh focus.

Leading family-owned companies in the engineering and construction sector have reported robust financial results and significant asset base growth.

Developers want to cut the ribbon on a major upgrade to Perth’s convention centre by the end of the decade and use a global oil and gas conference as its launchpad onto the world stage.

A reimagined Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre must come with a major new theatre and dedicated exhibition space, the state’s peak tourism lobby says, at it throws its support behind the project.

Work has commenced on Water Corporation’s $238.5 million upgrade of its wastewater treatment plant servicing Perth’s southern suburbs.

Traffic controllers in WA are in line for a 38 per cent pay rise and contractors expect similar increases will apply across the board because of new tendering rules set by Main Roads.

Global companies Metso and Weir Minerals and Perth firm Camco Engineering are leading a flurry of developments that will bring new jobs to Karratha and Port Hedland.

A joint venture between infrastructure provider GenusPlus Group and ACCIONA has been awarded a $1.4 billion contract to deliver a transmission project.

Port infrastructure at Cockburn Sound and major roads servicing the area, including parts of the Kwinana Freeway, will be upgraded in advance of the proposed Westport development.

The state government has changed its proposal for the $280 million Fremantle Traffic Bridge after community feedback, more than a year after unveiling the designs.

The WA government will step in to fill a $300 million funding gap for regional road projects left by the federal government’s exit from 50 funding partnerships nationwide.

Funding for four major regional WA road projects is among 50 infrastructure deals scrapped by the federal government due to cost blowouts.

Telstra has announced a major commitment to boost digital infrastructure in the state’s Pilbara region as part of a bigger plan that could cost up to $1.6 billion.

The WA government has joined other states in strongly criticising a new federal policy that would see the states pay at least half the bill for new infrastructure projects.

Woodside Energy has cleared a regulatory hurdle to build its proposed 500-megawatt large-scale solar farm and battery energy system near Karratha.

Amazon has officially opened its $70 million Perth inventory and delivery centre, which is about the same size as the WACA Ground, featuring a raft of autonomous technology.

A large work camp has been erected at Exmouth’s Harold E Holt naval base for what is believed to be a sorely-needed overhaul of several critical military facilities.

Plans for a state-of-the-art US military space defence system in Exmouth have been shelved, with no funds forthcoming to expand the surveillance base’s capability.

The engineering, procurement and construction business has moved its national headquarters to Adelaide Terrace.

Infrastructure WA chair Nicole Lockwood says the freight route could be used to access southern industrial areas once Fremantle Port is out of action.

Renewable energy player PWR Hybrid has finalised a 10-year power supply deal with Iluka Resources to be generated from its recently approved solar farm.

A new bridge spanning the Martuwarra Fitzroy River will be opened by the end of the year, more than six months ahead of schedule.

The $36.5 million redevelopment of the world-famous Cable Beach has begun with a tender now out to transform the southern precinct

The state government is calling for tenders to upgrade visitor amenities at Penguin Island ahead of the run-down discovery centre’s looming demolition.

Water services supplier Water Corporation has posted a surplus of almost $1 billion amid improved revenue off the back of increased service charges.

The environmental watchdog has recommended approval for Woodside’s proposed solar farm and battery energy system near Karratha, subject to strict conditions.

A $1.6 billion desalination plant north of Perth, expected to produce 100 gigalitres of drinking water a year, is one step closer to fruition.

Ground could soon break for WA’s first surf park, and its owners are working to bring world class surfers and musicians to the venue.

Business investment has picked up because of solid growth across buildings, machinery and equipment, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says.

Construction of a new wharf in Dampier to accommodate urea exports and other bulk cargo has gone to tender.

New investors and projects are laying the groundwork for growth in renewable energy in WA but a lot more is needed.

The local contractor pulls together an earnings turnaround and is confident in the ‘wide scale reset’ of its operations, but will book another loss for 2023.