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Shares in Australasian Resources have moved up this morning following the announcement of environmental approval from the state government for its $2.7 billion Balmoral South iron ore project.

Shares in Subiaco-based explorer Uramet Minerals have gained more than 5 per cent in morning trade after announcing it had executed a binding heads of agreement to enter into a joint venture to explore for gold in Guyana.

Port Bouvard has refinanced its existing bank facilities with St George Bank to the tune of $167.6 million, renewed until the end of 2011, allowing the property developer to focus on progressing the development of its flagship assets in Western Australia.

The state government has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling's overturning legal action by Apache Northwest to block the release of a restricted report into the Varanus gas pipeline explosion more than 18 months ago.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has nearly resolved the year-long dispute with its shipping charter contractors afte agreeing to pay more than $US20 million to one of the counterparties involved.

Balcatta-based mineral testing company Ammtec has suffered a slide in share value today after announcing a first half profit warning due to tough working conditions for its engineering subsidiary Marc Technologies.

Resources veteran Miles Kennedy has tendered his resignation as non-executive chairman at Sandfire Resources which the company said is part of a planned restructure of its Board.

Gold explorer Laguna Resources' share value remains unchanged after announcing it had acquired the Cachitos Gold Project in northern Chile.

Shares in engineering outfit VDM moved up slightly after announcing it had won a $79 million contract with a Rio Tinto subsidiary to refurbish the Pannawonica township in the Pilbara.

The stock price of Murchison Metals climbed this morning after announcing an upgrade for its 50 per cent-owned Jack Hills project to three billion tonnes with work underway exploring further potential at the site.

Mine sites ceased production and ports closed as heavy rains and strong winds battered the iron ore-rich Pilbara region overnight while other operations were left unscathed by Tropical Cyclone Laurence despite causing widespread damage as it moved inland.

Shares in iron ore explorer Aurox Resources closed slightly higher today after the company announced a 15 per cent upgrade at its Balla Balla project in the Pilbara to 238 million tonnes.

West Perth-based resources development outfit Atlantic Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a state-owned corporation to develop a new bauxite project in Vietnam.

Western Australia has joined the rest of the nation, excluding Tasmania, in posting a significant jump in new motor vehicle sales in November compared to the previous month, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data has showed.

Shares in Perth-based gold explorer Adamus Resources dropped today after announcing it had secured a credit facility for the development of its Southern Ashanti Gold Project in Ghana, enabling it to become a mid-tier gold producer by early 2011.

Shares in mining contractor NRW Holdings were up slightly following the announcement of a $200 million contract for the design, development and operation of an iron ore mine at Rio Tinto's Western Turner Syncline Section 10 deposit in the Pilbara.

Perth-based construction and engineering outfit Doric has secured a $3 million contract with the Water Corporation to increase pump performance at the Tamworth Hill Pump Station in Baldivis.

Developing and commercialising innovative technologies of 35 start-ups across the nation is the aim of the federal government's $64 million in funding, to be distributed by 11 fund managers.

A survey commissioned by the Australian Medical Association has found that doctors and nurses are rated as the country's most trusted professions respectively, with Western Australians also having a soft spot for teachers, engineers, accountants and trade

Great Southern receiver McGrathNicol has opted to wind up the olive schemes operated by the fallen agribusiness company after failing to overcome a stalemate with two of the biggest names in Western Australian horticulture.

Perth-based uranium explorer Energia Minerals is poised to list on the Australian Securities Exchange later this month after an initial public offer raised $7.5 million.

There is good news ahead with 2010 shaping to be a much better year for Western Australian businesses, with a majority of employers expecting the local economy to pick up pace in the next 12 months, according WA's peak industry body.

SOUTH West Printing and Publishing has joined a growing number of businesses to have found that employing disabled workers can bring substantial rewards.

Diverse offerings and a user-friendly atmosphere are paramount for Chris Taylor. Russell Quinn reports.

THE old adage of governments being safe in good economic times might have to be turned on its head, with both Labor federally and Liberal-Nationals WA at state level looking very comfortable after winning elections in the boom and consolidating their posi

Some tough political decisions will have to be made as resources sector growth continues.

There are big news stories, and there are issues that really get our readers fired up.

AS charities go, the Pew Charitable Trusts and The Nature Conservancy are gorillas of global philanthropy.

Speeding fines all part of the business for Sandfire Resources.

Despite the onset of massive projects, Western Australia has not been handed the carte blanche to employ foreign workers given to the Snowy Mountains Scheme 60 years ago.

Interpretation is all in the eye of the beholder, as the big resource companies have discovered

WA employers want more input into federal policy in order to stop a repeat of the ‘Karratha problem’.