Infrastructure

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.

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.

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 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.

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.