Westforce Construction and JWI Contractors will complete $26 million worth of upgrades to the century-old Vasse diversion drain in Busselton to manage the risk of flooding.
An internationally renowned radio astronomer and a pioneer in epigenomics were jointly named WA's Scientist of the Year at last night's Premier's Science Awards.
Owen Nevin has been named chief executive of WA's Biodiversity Science Institute on the same day the state government pledged $3.4 million to the organisation.
The state government is investing $71.9 million in wastewater infrastructure and upgrades to water services in remote Aboriginal communities, as part of Western Australia's COVID-19 recovery plan.
OncoRes Medical has been awarded $1 million in federal funding to develop technology that can reduce the need for repeat operations in breast cancer patients.
The co-operative that distributes water in the Ord River irrigation area has scored a big court victory over the state government, retaining its current water allocation to support the development of new cotton farms. The state government had wanted to slash the Ord Irrigation Co-operative's annual water allocation by one third.
Contractor Georgiou Group will build a $25 million pipeline for the long-term supply of water into Denmark, while ADCO Constructions has secured an $8.8 million contract for early redevelopment works at the Geraldton Health Campus.
Water Corporation will supply Perth-based technology business Hazer Group with biogas from its wastewater treatment plant at Woodman Point, following an agreement signed between the two parties.
The state government plans to halt three major contracts at Fiona Stanley Hospital held by Serco Australia, resulting in 650 jobs moving back to the public sector at a cost of $93 million over 10 years.This adds to similar moves in the water and corrections portfolios.
An industry consortium including Woodside and two universities has confirmed Perth will be the hub of a new remote operations centre dedicated to the space industry.
OPINION: The public sector workforce is growing again, having been cut to streamline state expenditure amid the McGowan government's budget repair efforts.
Our weekly appointments wrap includes Nicola Watts, David MacLean, Charlotte Wallace, Robert Kaplan, Geoff Eyre, Phillip Fox, Dave Kelly, Peter Tinley and Chris Tallentire.
Sydney-based contractor Interflow has secured a $6 million contract from Water Corporation to refurbish 14 kilometres of wastewater pipes in Western Australia.
The state government has announced that a second major Water Corporation contract delivered by the private sector will be brought back in-house, despite contractor Suez claiming it had exceeded the government's performance targets.
WA is estimated to have the country's fastest growing IT workforce over the next five years with annual growth of 3.2 per cent, according to a report commissioned by the Australian Computer Society.
The state government has announced the start of works on a $52 million upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant in Neerabup as part of the expansion of Perth's groundwater replenishment scheme.
The Water Corporation is refusing to release the details of a review it says backs a decision to insource a major maintenance contract, a move that runs counter to the economic reforms of recent decades.
Telstra and Dutch multinational Fugro have opened a remote operations centre in Gnangara, which the partners hope could be used to service industries beyond oil and gas.
UPDATED: A three-year trial to boost rock lobster availability in Western Australia is expected to increase visitor expenditure and grow jobs in marine tourism, though the lobster industry has expressed concern over the changes.
The WA government has turned the clock back by returning maintenance and operations work across Water Corporation's Perth and Mandurah networks to state control.
Edith Cowan University's Rob Newton and Curtin University's Phil Bland were named joint winners of the scientist of the year award at last night's Premier's Science Awards.
The federal government has signed a memorandum of understanding to invest $6 million in Western Australia's space industry so the state can play a significant role in the broader national expansion plan.
The state government has introduced a science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills strategy, which aims to have 85 per cent of year 12 students completing two or more STEM courses.
The fishing industry says it is disappointed by the state government's backdown on a local lobster supply deal, with a planned international lobster festival to be one of the casualties.
The state government has turned to the private sector to find a new home for Scitech, after previous attempts to move the organisation to the Perth Cultural Centre fell through.
The state government has announced it will spend $34.7 million over four years on the Office of Digital Government to transform digital processes in the Western Australian public sector.
Perth-based security and technology company Spectur has announced it will join the state government's new shark drumline trial, providing nine Shark Warning Systems.
The state government and the Western Rock Lobster Council have reached a comprise on the future of the industry, with the annual catch to increase by just 315 tonnes. However, details of how this will be delivered to the local market have not yet been worked out.
Lobsters were sold for as little as $30 per kilogram under an initiative to encourage domestic supply, according to an unpublished government report which found the Local Lobster Program at least partially met two major objectives but also raised numerous concerns.
A drumline trial set to control and monitor great white shark numbers off Western Australia's south west coast is set to go ahead, after the Environmental Protection Authority found no concerns.
Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly has signalled he may well walk back plans to take control of about 17 per cent of an enlarged local lobster catch, saying his priorities would be an International Lobster Festival in Perth and a domestic quota.
Crayfishermen will consider paying more in royalties to the state government as an alternative to Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly's planned takeover of new licences, while concerns continue about the fragility of price premiums in the Chinese export market.
