Infrastructure

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.

Hong Kong investor CKI will be hoping the federal government approves its $7.3 billion takeover bid for DUET Group if the energy utility operator's shareholders back the deal.

Business News sat down to lunch at Julio's with the CEO and managing director of Decmil Group, Scott Criddle, who says building relationships is an important part of his role.

The state government has committed $37 million to an ambitious desalination and irrigation project in the South West that is led by Perth business executive Peter Fogarty and will cost an estimated $380 million.

Plans for a new section of Great Northern Highway will be progressed by Main Roads after the state government gave its nod for a bypass of Bindoon.

A joint venture between BGC Contracting and Laing O'Rourke has been confirmed as the successful bidder for a $417 million contract to deliver the second stage of the Northlink WA roads project.

Treasurer Mike Nahan says most of the 10,000 defects at the new Perth Children's Hospital revealed in public documents have been fixed, but he's hesitant to pinpoint when the already delayed facility will finally open its doors.

The environmental group trying to stop work on the state government's Roe 8 project has been refused an interim injunction on construction by the Federal Court, but has vowed to keep fighting.

BMD Constructions has won a $13.6 million contract from Main Roads for a new traffic bridge in Australind, creating a third crossing over the Collie River.

Perth contractor Brierty has confirmed it expects to report a significant uplift in half-year profit after cutting back costs and adopting a ‘back to basics' strategy.

The federal government is aiming to provide better transport across the nation by considering changes to how Australians pay for roads.

Probuild has awarded Perth-based Global Construction Services a $59 million contract for work on the $500 million Ritz-Carlton hotel and The Towers apartments project at Elizabeth Quay.

Perth company OTOC has joined TFS Corporation in receiving shareholder approval for a name change and rebranding, which both companies say will more accurately reflect their business models.

The auditor general says former transport minister Dean Nalder's decision to withhold information from parliament about his proposed Max Light Rail project was unreasonable, as the details were already in the public domain.

The state government has named the preferred proponent for its $55 million Ellenbrook Bus Rapid Transit project, with work expected to begin by the end of the year.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group says it has received $200 million worth of work on the east coast, including two major contracts in the water infrastructure market.

Perth-based OTOC has further expanded its operations with the acquisition of Tasmanian business Lester Franks Survey & Geographic for up to $5 million in cash and shares.

Building materials supplier Boral has agreed to buy US firm Headwaters Incorporated for around $US2.6 billion ($A3.5 billion), which Boral says will more than double its US business and help accelerate development of its light building products platform.

The WACA has revealed the nine-figure number it has asked the state government to contribute for a proposed $207 million redevelopment of the East Perth cricket ground.

Local companies have shared in $35.6 million worth of construction and building contracts for work around the state, including the Perth-based civil and mining division of Watpac Group, which has won a $7.1 million contract for road upgrades at Kalbarri National Park.

MACA has won a contract to provide its services to Main Roads WA in the Kimberley region, with the work valued at up to $18.4 million.

Perth-based Decmil Group has won a $22.1 million contract for road work in Victoria through a subsidiary it acquired earlier this year.

Applecross-based PDC Group has entered into an agreement for the sale of its building information modelling management business to a US construction services firm for an undisclosed sum.

The majority of UGL's directors are recommending the engineering group's shareholders accept Spanish-controlled construction giant CIMIC Group's $524 million takeover bid.

The state government is putting the finishing touches on the business case for a second floating dock at the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson, which it plans to pitch to the federal government to cement the complex's place as one of the nation's two shipbuilding hubs.

A joint venture comprising Henderson-based contractor Civmec and international engineering firm Black & Veatch has been selected as preferred proponent for a $196 million wastewater project south of Perth.

The joint venture that has today started construction of the state government's $1.96 billion Forrestfield-Airport Rail Link project has also submitted a proposal for the third stage of the NorthLink WA road project.

A protest group has been ordered to pay the legal costs of its Supreme Court action against the contentious Roe 8 highway extension project.

An ambitious waste recycling project using technology developed by ASX-listed AnaeCo and jointly built by contactor Monadelphous Group has gone into administration.