Special Reports

AN often forgotten segment of the City of Perth's history and culture could play a major role in the lord mayoral election. The Greek and Italian communities, while not as visible as they once were, are said to hold considerable sway at the ballot box.

POSTAL voting is expected to prompt greater than usual interest in polling from Perth businesses in the City of Perth ballot next month, a marked change from recent elections.

The pundits are hedging their bets in the upcoming race for lord mayor, with some well-qualified challengers lining up to take on the incumbent Dr Peter Nattrass. WA Business News' reporters look at the candidates and their agendas.

THERE are 126 outcomes possible from a choice of four City of Perth councillors from nine nominees. And each would make for an interesting combination.

Is the highly sought after position of lord mayor really worth winning? Joe Poprzeczny assesses its limited powers and offers recommendations on how to improve the role.

PROMINENT business identity Ross Smith has taken a step back from the corporate world and moved ‘down south' in search of a fresh start.

THE consequences of popularity are becoming all-too apparent to the burghers of the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, who must balance the benefits of investment in the region with community concerns about environmental impact of over-development.

WHILE many locals are applauding the cautious approach the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River has taken to development, others are complaining that such a tight hold is undermining the region's economic sustainability.

CHAMBER of Commerce and Industry chief executive Lyndon Rowe is among the high-profile development proponents to have recently received a rebuff from the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council is keeping a tight rein on development projects in the region as increasing numbers of interested parties eye the prize. Tracey Cook reports.

THE accompanying graphic is an approximate list and location of some of the major projects planned or under construction in the cape to cape region.

BURSWOOD International Resort Casino believes the major refurbishment completed in late 2001 leaves it well placed to face extra competition in the MICE market.

NEWLY appointed Perth Convention Exhibition Centre chief executive Paul D'Arcy hopes a whole-of-city approach will help place Perth among the list of top international convention destinations.

THE Hyatt Regency Perth showcased its recently renovated Plaza Ballroom to high-profile convention organisers at a special luncheon last week.

IT may surprise some that Australia has never had a Gold Week, but there are no prizes for guessing which State will host the first ever such event, nor for naming the organisation behind the initiative.

THE Western Australian Turf Club is aggressively marketing its racecourses as premier outdoor event locations in an effort to attract non-race related functions and exhibitions to the Ascot and Belmont sites.

DESPITE a rising Australian dollar and the fallout from recent terrorist attacks in Bali and the US, Western Australia's incentive travel operators are expecting strong growth.

PLAYING cards with an event manager would be tricky for two reasons – they combine a poker-faced approach to business with a flair for developing a winning hand, whatever cards they've been dealt.

PLAYERS in the WA tourism industry have welcomed the State Government's $300,000 cash injection into the Convention Attraction Support Team, or CAST.

REGIONAL food producers and growers' markets believe the deregulation of trading hours will severely impact on their businesses.

THE tourism industry and tourist operators could suffer the consequences of deregulation, according to the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce.

PREMIER Geoff Gallop calls it being held to ransom; the National Competition Council calls it fair play.

TWO years ago there were just two women on WA's port authority boards, but now there is one on each of the eight boards, and 11 in total.

WHILE most ports are “steaming along very nicely”, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan acknowledges she and some port authorities have faced several difficult situations in the past two years.

WA regional ports' executive management and their boards are overseeing major expansions, planning for trade in new commodities, and negotiating rural industry setbacks.

DROUGHT conditions throughout much of Australia have not stopped farmers from dipping into their pockets to purchase big-ticket tractors and combine harvesters.

ELEVEN years ago, a small group of WA farmers shook up the State's fertiliser market when they started undercutting the big players with cheap imports.

CITY folk could be forgiven for thinking the farm sector is in crisis.

THE middle of a drought may seem a strange time to open a new farm machinery factory, but that is exactly what Jandakot-based Ausplow has done.

MUCKINBUDIN wheat farmer Allan Watson and Morawa wheat farmer Chris Moffet should have a lot in common. But their common interest in the future of WA's grains industry is divided by their off-farm roles.

IT has been a fascinating year at Christmas Island company Phosphate Resources Limited, which has been embroiled in a shareholder squabble since Como-based Asset Backed Holdings entered the company's register in 2002 and its directors...

ONE week after surviving a threatened Aliquot Asset Management boardroom spill, Michael Perrott and Antony Rigoll have avoided a similar battle with shareholders at Phosphate Resources Limited by stepping down as directors.