Infrastructure

Construction and contract mining giant CIMIC Group's quarterly profit has jumped 23 per cent and the company says it has solid pipeline of potential projects and opportunities to expand its mining and mineral processing activities.

Western Areas has reignited plans to upgrade its Cosmic Boy concentrator in the light of interest in nickel in the electric vehicle battery market, with GR Engineering Services to carry out the work.

Premier Mark McGowan has officially marked the beginning of the reversal process for the $440 million Roe 8 highway extension project, with a renegotiation process between Main Roads and the project’s proponents set to begin.

An environmental audit on the cancelled Roe 8 highway extension project has found just one minor area of non-compliance in the implementation of management plans by the project’s proponents.

S2 Resources chairman Jeff Dowling and Clayton Utz partner Stephen Boyle have been named incoming directors of Fleetwood Corporation, while Michael Hardy has retired from board.

Trans-shipment has been floated as a solution to capacity constraints at bulk export ports in the state’s north.

Premier Colin Barnett has taken aim at Labor leader Mark McGowan, accusing him of being cheap and tacky over a proposal to sell stadium naming rights.

Infrastructure and mining services group Downer has agreed to buy New Zealand builder Hawkins for an undisclosed sum, as it expands operations in the Pacific nation.

Drivers will be able to turn left on red lights at 10 intersections across Perth under a trial announced by Liberal Transport Minister Bill Marmion if the party is re-elected next Saturday.

Could the state government solve the political headache created by the freight congestion at Fremantle, set up the state’s future as significant trading hub, and make a big profit on privatisation all at the same time? One local infrastructure expert certainly thinks so.

Shares in mining and civil contractor Brierty have tumbled 23 per cent today despite the company announcing a $3.8 million net profit for the six months to December, which the company said was above guidance.

Premier Colin Barnett has rejected calls to release the latest costings for the Roe 9 stage of the contentious Perth Freight Link project, saying it would undermine the tender process.

There’s been a big rise in the exercise of contract termination for convenience clauses in the past four years, according to Jackson McDonald lead partner of projects, infrastructure and construction Basil Georgiou.

National hire equipment supplier Kennards Hire has acquired a Belmont-based company that offers similar services for an undisclosed sum.

ANALYSIS: Both Colin Barnett and Mark McGowan wisely avoided making big spending commitments when they launched their formal election campaigns on Sunday.

Perth-based private utility Water West has received Economic Regulation Authority approval to roll out water recycling at a new land development near Pinjarra.

The company building the national broadband network, NBN Co, says the number of homes and businesses connected to the network is now 1.6 million - double the same time a year ago.

A marina in Perth's north is a sure thing after the WA Liberals pledged $105 million to its development, weeks after Labor committed $40 million to a similar project.

Local engineering and construction group Valmec has won a $5.4 million contract for work on DBP Development Group’s Tubridgi gas storage facility near Onslow, which will be the largest in Western Australia when completed.

Congested roads are becoming a way of life for many residents of Bunbury as visitors from the north clog the city’s arterial roads on weekend trips to and from the South West.

SPECIAL REPORT: Two Perth mayors have more at stake than most if the controversial Roe 8 contract is ripped up, having both devoted decades fighting on opposite sides of the debate.

Fremantle council has passed a motion to support concerts raising funds to help pay the legal fees of those protesting against the Perth Freight Link project.

Work has started on a $70 million expansion of the Busselton-Margaret River regional airport, after Ertech and Arup were awarded contracts for development of the project.

Decmil Group has substantially cut its revenue forecasts for the current financial year due to delays in recent contract wins, while suffering further losses at a Victorian construction project.

The iconic Dingo Flour mill in North Fremantle is coming under new ownership after Graincorp and Cargill Australia agreed to sell their Allied Mills Australia joint venture to private equity group Pacific Equity Partners.

The state government has awarded an $11.5 million contract to Universal Constructions for development of the replacement Doubleview Primary School, while other local builders have shared in $26.7 million worth of work.

Rail operator Aurizon has taken a $321 million hit from write-downs and charges but has maintained its full-year guidance for underlying earnings.

A subsidiary of Spanish-controlled CIMIC Group will build the final stage of the $1.12 billion Northlink WA roads project, with the state government awarding the last unassigned portion of work today.

The head contractor building the new Perth Children’s Hospital dropped a bombshell this morning, with the project’s manager saying the company is not responsible for the lead-contaminated water, and that water being delivered to the site already contains the harmful  metal.

ANALYSIS: Politics is getting in the way of timely and cost-efficient delivery of much-needed major projects.

Western Australian police say they have arrested 30 people this morning for disrupting land clearing works as bulldozers moved in on the controversial Roe 8 highway extension project.

Colin Barnett has criticised protesters for disrupting the government's Roe 8 project, saying they were refusing to accept the courts' decisions and did not deserve sympathy.