Latest Headlines

Mirabela Nickel has announced a major milestone with production starting at its Santa Rita open-cut nickel mine in Brazil.

Moly Mines has warned its future depends on the success of debt restructure talks with its lender as project acquisition plans are put on the backburner.

The state government has conditionally agreed to build part of a major power line in the Mid West after it omitted the upgrade in this year's budget due to a substantial cost blow-out.

Shares in Perth-based Strike Resources are higher after it struck an offtake deal with two Asian companies over its Berau coal project in Indonesia.

A preliminary study has confirmed Extract Resources' Rossing South project would be one of the world's largest uranium mines with an estimated capital cost of $US704 million ($A842 million).

Transfield Services has been awarded a maintenance and shutdown contract with BHP Billiton Iron Ore at its Mt Whaleback operation in Newman.

Western Areas has moved to distance itself from chairman Terry Streeter's $65 million court loss last week as the mining identity considers an appeal.

The state's resource companies have led a strong rebound in the Deloitte WA Index in the second half of the 2009 financial year, with the market capitalisation of stocks jumping 30 per cent in the June quarter.

A group of Perth businessmen have won a three-year battle against Western Areas directors Terry Streeter and David Cooper, with the Supreme Court today awarding nearly $65 million to unrelated company Western Areas Exploration.

West Perth-based Navigator Resources plans to undertake trial mining at its Leonora gold project after reaching a deal with St Barbara to treat the gold at the Gwalia mill.

Western Australians are a negative lot compared to the rest of the nation with nearly half responding to a home finance survey believing their property values will decline in the next quarter.

Miner Perilya has bought back the silver rights at its Broken Hill mine from Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation for $US55 million ($A66 million).

Atlas Iron has approved the development of its Wodgina iron ore project in the Pilbara, which has a capital cost of just under $10 million thanks to a deal with Talison Minerals.

The City of Perth, property developer Match and the Rottnest Island Hotel were among the winners unveiled last night at the 2009 Heritage Awards.

Macmahon Holdings has been awarded a $60 million contract by the Ulan Line Alliance for rail construction work as part of plans for increased coal output in the Hunter Valley.

Shares in Dioro Exploration have surged as it urges shareholders take no action on Ramelius Resources' $92 million all-scrip takeover bid, a higher offer to Avoca Resources' recommended proposal.

Mining services company NRW Holdings, in joint venture with the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation, has been awarded a $15 million construction contract by Rio Tinto.

Mining services company Imdex has terminated a $28 million merger with drilling specialist Coretrack after due diligence did not meet expectations.

Chevron has taken the next step in its ambitious plans to become a major gas operator in WA, awarding the onshore front-end engineering and design contract for its $25 billion Wheatstone project to US company Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemicals Inc.

Avoca Resources' recommended takeover offer for Dioro Exploration has been trumped by Adelaide-based Ramelius Resources, which today launched a superior $92 million all-scrip offer for the gold miner.

Neptune Marine Services says it has ended negotiations over a US-based acquisition as it progresses its plans to acquire Singaporean company Core IRM for $11 million.

Perth-based Sino Gas & Energy plans to list on the local stock exchange in the coming months as it prepares to launch a $10.3 million rights issue and initial public offer.

Federal Industry Minister Kim Carr has outlined a new government strategy to encourage the use of Australian steel in domestic projects.

The Australian Institute of Company Directors says existing insider trading laws and rules governing director share trading are adequate and do not need tightening as recommended by the federal government's market advisory committee.

Perth's property market has today received mixed signals from latest surveys on house prices as building approvals surge 21.1 per cent, official data shows.

Osborne Park-based A1 Minerals has received environmental and mining approvals for its Brightstar gold project, with production slated to start in the December quarter this year.

Building approvals in Western Australia have jumped more than 21 per cent in June as the nation posts its biggest surge in four years thanks to a flurry of new apartment projects, official data shows.

Premier Colin Barnett has vowed to block any move to pipe gas from the Browse Basin to existing LNG facilities on Burrup Peninsula, in a bid to shore up support for his preferred Kimberley LNG hub at James Price Point near Broome.

House prices in Perth have bucked the national trend, dipping nearly 1 per cent in the second quarter this year, a national survey shows.

Treasurer Troy Buswell has flagged a possible overhaul of an act governing the public sector as the state government starts a reorganisation of its administration.

The Western Australian Trade Opportunities Service is operated by the International Trade Centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia.

THE redevelopment of Subi Centro is entering a new phase, with three mixed-use projects in the northern part of the suburb moving closer to construction.