News Articles for Rita Saffioti

National advisory body Infrastructure Australia has added regional roads upgrades in WA and Perth's water security to its listing of high priority initiatives that need more attention, and notably has kept the proposed Morley Ellenbrook rail link near the bottom of its priority list.

The state government's most accomplished minister is planning to retire at next year's state election, dealing a blow to premier Mark McGowan, with a handful of current ministers seen as potential successors should Labor be re-elected.

NSW-based contractor Downer has secured the road portion of works for the Denny Avenue level crossing removal in Kelmscott, ahead of Perth construction company Decmil.

Recent planning decisions have been positive for developers in South Perth, but several major players have cautioned that significant challenges remain in the near-city suburb.

Property industry lobby groups have called for a bipartisan approach to maintaining stamp duty rebates in the apartments sector, after a robust debate in parliament yesterday revealed the Liberal opposition as a critic of the tax cut.

This year's Most Influential feature has been narrowed down to the 50 people in WA making the biggest impact in business and politics.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti's decision to allow for higher density around Daglish and Shenton Park train stations has been described by the state opposition as chaotic and erratic, but the minister says any new development will be at an appropriate scale and respect the local character and context.

UPDATED: The state government has said it will adopt most of the recommendations arising from a parliamentary inquiry into short-term accommodation, with Tourism Council WA and the Australian Hotels Association WA welcoming the pledge to apply more stringent regulation to the sector.

The state government has today pledged to spend $2 million promoting regional tourism and $8 million on aviation, as it ramps-up its response to the worsening coronavirus outbreak.

Subiaco's fortunes are on an upswing after years plagued by high retail vacancies, high-profile hospitality closures and an uncertain future with the exit of AFL football to the Burswood Peninsula.

A coastal village featuring a hospitality precinct and a new jetty will be the centrepiece of a $425 million housing estate in Port Kennedy, which will be developed over the next decade.

UPDATED: ASX-listed apartments developer Finbar Group expects to start building its $300 million, 39-storey Civic Heart project in South Perth later this year, after Planning Minister Rita Saffioti superseded local planning authorities and approved the development.

Perth company Georgiou Group has started upgrade works on High Street in Fremantle, as part of a $118 million state and federal government project designed to improve safety and reduce congestion.

The state government has awarded Bocol Constructions and MACA a contract to raise the height of the Hay Street traffic bridge, a project that will require the closure of Mitchell Freeway for two weekends.

The state government has begun the tender process for the design, construction and commissioning of the Metronet Morley-Ellenbrook line, despite delays related to other contracts set to deliver the line's build.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has approved changes to Subiaco's town planning scheme, with high-density development to be clustered in certain areas and heritage protections for character areas of the near-city suburb.

Developer Saracen Properties will start work early next year on a heritage restoration of East Fremantle's historic Royal George Hotel, after Planning Minister Rita Saffioti approved changes to planning guidelines to facilitate the development.

Work has started on the state government's $716 million, 32 kilometre Thornlie-Cockburn Link, but the Liberal opposition claims the Metronet project is two years behind schedule and its cost is blowing out.

Northern Star Resources has confirmed it is the new owner of a half stake in Kalgoorlie-Boulder's famous Super Pit, with the gold miner announcing an $US800 million ($1.16 billion) deal with Newmont Goldcorp.

Global manufacturer Alstom has signed a 10-year contract to assemble new railcars at Midland as part of the Metronet project, with the government saying the railcars will be delivered 22 per cent below its budget at $1.25 billion.

A consortium comprising national firms CPB Contractors and Downer has been selected as the preferred contractor for the Yanchep and Thornlie-Cockburn rail projects, with construction expected to commence in May next year, well after the state government's goal of starting this year.

The widening of Mitchell Freeway near Joondalup and a train station at Lakelands are some of the new projects to be funded from a $940 million, four-year infrastructure stimulus package announced today.

Environmental work for part of the Ellenbrook rail line has been submitted to regulators today, with a second stage of the project, from Malaga to Ellenbrook, to be reviewed next year.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has confirmed the state government will assess whether Finbar Group's Civic Heart proposal in South Perth should have been approved, while at the same time another planning flashpoint is emerging in Melville.

Welshpool-based company Westforce Construction has been chosen to design and build two new car parks at Meltham and Ashfield train stations.

The state government is seeking tenders to design and build a $32 million multi-storey car park at Mandurah Train Station, with construction to commence early next year.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti says the state government is assessing whether it needs to intervene following the rejection of Finbar Group's $365 million Civic Heart proposal in South Perth by planning authorities.

Pre-construction works for stage one of the Bussell Highway dual carriageway project have begun, with the $4.5 million tender awarded to a joint venture between indigenous-owned and operated DK Kaartdijin and civil contractor BCP Group.

Off-the-plan apartment buyers in Western Australia will receive a 75 per cent rebate on stamp duty for the next two years, capped at $50,000, under a stimulus package unveiled by the state government today that has been roundly welcomed by the development industry.

Western Australia's biggest apartments developer is evaluating its options after its second proposal for the flagship Civic Triangle site in South Perth was knocked back by planning authorities.

The state government has invited three companies to tender for the $69 million Denny Avenue level crossing removal.

Consistency across local governments and clear guidelines for decision makers are top priorities for the state government's comprehensive suite of planning reforms.

A large portion of Bullsbrook is set to be opened up for development, with the state government moving to rezone 362 hectares in the suburb to allow for the construction of residential, retail and commercial buildings.

The state government has shortlisted two proponents to design and build the new Bayswater station, with early construction to commence later in the year.

OPINION: The state government's $1.6 billion plan to build railcars at Bellevue for the Metronet project represents a massive public sector investment in local manufacturing.

The state government has selected French company Alstom as preferred proponent to build and maintain its new fleet of railcars, ahead of two competing groups, including the Downer Bombardier joint

The state government's Westport taskforce has concluded that all container shipping should be moved out of Fremantle to a new land-backed port in Cockburn Sound, to be built at a cost of about $4 billion.

Infrastructure Australia has dramatically scaled down the expected cost of road congestion in Perth, mainly because of lower population growth, but has warned about the impact of continued urban sprawl.

Wholesale changes to Western Australia's planning system, including a reduction in the number of development assessment panels, a more streamlined Western Australian Planning Commission, and standardised local government regulations have been welcomed as a boost to housing affordability and a catalyst for greater diversity of housing choice across the state.

The state government is making solid progress on its congestion busting, industry boosting infrastructure rollout.