North-West

A Pilbara ammonia upstart has struck a deal with Pilbara Ports to probe exporting ammonia from the Port of Dampier.

The state government will begin building another desalination plant in the Pilbara by the end of the decade to ease pressure on the region’s aquifers.

Concern is growing about water use in Australia’s economic powerhouse, with another water-intensive industry on the way.

A north-west university hub will set up shop in Kununurra by mid-2025 under a federal government program to improve access to tertiary education in regional Australia.

A consumer lobby group wants to see a reinsurance pool’s cash reserves used to beef up mitigation and reduce insurance premiums in northern Australia.

Mining giant BHP has applied to demolish Port Hedland’s Pier Hotel and is weighing up how to pay homage to the notorious watering hole.

Seafood giant Tassal has won traditional owner support for its barramundi farm expansion plan off the Kimberley coast.

Energy infrastructure builder APA Group has laid claim to a land area larger than Perth to progress the rollout of its Pilbara renewable energy ambitions.

Rio Tinto will trial blending renewable diesel with traditional fuel at its Pilbara iron ore operations as an interim measure to reduce its carbon footprint.

An indigenous-owned Pilbara renewable energy plant has breezed through planning approval, clearing the way for the $200 million project to be green-lit.

Japanese giant Sumitomo Metal Mining has forked out $615m for a stake in Rio Tinto’s big Western Australian copper discovery.

Business News' inaugural list of those who live or spend much of their year in the north-west and influential policy and investment decisions in the region.

It has been a marathon, rather than a sprint, to break ground on several globally significant renewable energy projects earmarked for the north-west.

It has been a long time since big investors started spruiking plans for new salt projects in the north-west.

The state’s biggest marina development in recent years is finished, but elsewhere above the 26th parallel projects are stuck on the drawing board.

Six traditional owner groups will share in up to $2.1 million worth of grants to start native seed production trials for land restoration.

Djarindjin, Broome, and Newman airports were each toasted at the Australian Airports Association awards night.

A matriarch, a local fashion legend, a fighter, a teacher, and a cultural force. Late Yindjibarndi elder Mrs T Daniel was larger than life.

A modern interpretation of an ancient ritual could help Indigenous tourism operators in the north-west grow their businesses.

Australian and US armed forces are spending big and spruiking grand plans for defence infrastructure and presence.

There may be no shortage of ideas to fix the north-west’s housing crisis, but turning plans into action has proved challenging.

Low water triggers at an aquifer critical to the Pilbara’s development have been breached, according to Traditional Owners, due to water abstraction and low rainfall.

Big infrastructure projects aside, the state government has lined up a host of health, policing and education developments in the north-west.

The north-west is short of beds for leisure and corporate travelers, yet proponents find it near-impossible to build a development business case.

Carnarvon’s banana co-operative has spent the past two decades finding creative ways to turn its growers’ discards into profit.

The WA government is yet to sign land deals for two industrial hubs nearly two years after it offered the sites to green energy and manufacturing proponents.

Companies that can overcome high costs, tight regulation and staff scarcity can be rewarded with large contracts, market leadership and loyal customers in the north-west.

Scroll through Business News' list of 100 major projects planned or under construction in WA's north-west.

One issue looms large above all others for the north-west as voters get ready to head to state and federal polls next year.

A Pilbara Aboriginal corporation has accused the WA government of mismanaging an aquifer critical to a national park and Karratha’s drinking water supply.

A Karratha-based Aboriginal-owned firm has hailed a $30 million deal for work on the Pluto LNG project as a company-transforming contract.

The Pilbara's investment pipeline has grown nearly 50 per cent in one year, and iron ore is not the biggest driver.