Despite widespread predictions of doom and gloom in 2009 due to the global financial crisis, there were more ups than downs in a year in which WA led the rest of the country.
IF there is one phrase to sum up 2009, it is liquefied natural gas, for it was undoubtedly the year that LNG became the main game in town and the virtual saviour of business confidence and Treasury projections.
COMETH the hour, cometh the man, as the saying goes.And for Western Australia’s key export industry, the hour certainly came early in 2009, and with it a handful of key executives took the opportunity to make their mark.
AFTER the uncertainty of 2008, investing in infrastructure to boost confidence in the economy was a primary objective of both state and federal governments during 2009.
WESTERN Australia may have proved its resilience in 2009 by bouncing back from the financial crisis to lead Australia’s economic recovery, but it still endured its fair share of disasters during the year.
As 2009 comes to a close, major construction companies are exploring new opportunities in the public sector to offset the expected downturn in commercial building.
COMING off the boom levels of residential construction experienced from 2006 until 2008, the past 12 months has been a slow period for the building sector, according to industry analysis.
Latest data from the state's real estate institute indicates Perth's median house price is heading back to the peak level it achieved in December, 2007 on the back of strong sales turnover among more expensive homes.
Perth-based oil and gas company Amadeus Energy has acquired the Texas-based operator of the majority of its US interests in a deal worth more than $US5 million.
Lobby groups and unions have given a mixed response to sweeping reforms proposed by the Economic Audit Committee, with some saying the recommendations do not go far enough.
A higher Australian dollar combined with lower commodity prices is expected to more than offset higher production volumes for the nation's resources sector, with export earnings tipped to fall 20 per cent in 2009/10.
Subiaco-based Sylvania Resources has conditionally raised nearly $18 million from a new institutional investor, with funds to be used for development and acquisitions.
Chevron has made a deepwater gas discovery in the Carnarvon Basin offshore Western Australia, which could support the company's long-term growth plans for the Gorgon project.
Port Bouvard joint chief executive Matthew Perrott has resigned less than a year after his appointment, as the property developer continues to hold talks with St George over its debt funding.
Kairiki Energy and Nido Petroleum have given the green light for the development of their $US20 million ($A22 million) Tindalo oil project in the Philippines.
Talison Lithium's $196 million initial public offer has been withdrawn, days before it was due to list on the local stock exchange, making it the second major resources float in less than a week to suffer an eleventh hour setback.
The state government has used $17.8 million from stage two of the federal government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus package to build 50 new affordable homes in Mirrabooka, Housing Minister Troy Buswell said today.
The $203 million offering of the largest resources float for this year, Q Copper, has been delayed after a UK investor, introduced by Cape Lambert Resources, had to pull out.
Perth-based Rio Tinto executive Danny Goeman has been announced as the miner's new lead iron ore price negotiator for the company's Asian iron ore division.
West Perth-based Nkwe Platinum has raised $11 million that will settling the acquisition of International Goldfield's interest in a South African platinum project.
Home buyers looking to enter the market are being told houses in Perth and Brisbane will offer 'bang for your buck' as the roll back of the first home owners grant boost has had little effect on the lower-end of the market.
Cobham Aviation Services Australia has today secured the country's largest-ever aviation support contract for the resources industry with a $170 million contract to provide flight services for Chevron's operations in the north of the state.
Perth-based Mantra Resources will raise a total $C67.2 million ($A70 million) from North American and European institutional investors for its Mkuju River uranium project in Tanzania.
The Pulpwood Plantations proposal to take over Great Southern timber schemes was withdrawn today before the official vote was to take place, as attention now turns towards rival bidder Gunns.
A report released today has refuted commonly reported perceptions of the Australian housing market, saying homes in the country are not overly expensive with the median price at $371,000.
