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Plans for a private port at Kwinana, backed by BGC boss Len Buckeridge, progressed today after Planning Minister John Day tabled planning scheme amendments to facilitate the reclassification of a waterway reservation to an industrial zone.

Oil and gas explorer Red Fork Energy has raised $5 million through a placement to fund the development of its projects in Oklahoma.

The new company to emerge from a merger between Jackson Minerals and Scimitar Resources will seek $7.5 million in fresh capital to ramp up exploration activities at its uranium assets.

The average weekly wage in Western Australia has grown more than 6 per cent over the past year to $1,338, higher than the national average of $1,182.

Shares in Vmoto have soared after the company secured a $US23 million ($A30 million) deal to supply 30,000 scooters to Vietnam.

Western Australia continues to dominate the country's share of capital investment on advanced projects with latest figures showing the state accounted for more than 70 per cent of expenditure.

West Perth-based Continental Capital has taken a further step towards establishing itself as a coal producer after securing a $20 million debt facility and a deal to acquire two more coal assets.

Heron Resources has suffered a blow with Brazilian mining giant Vale withdrawing from the $2 billion Kalgoorlie nickel joint venture, leaving the West Perth-based company looking for a new partner.

West Perth-based ThinkSmart has expanded its reach in Spain with the execution of a new three-year deal with Phone House.

Business satisfaction with banks has fallen to a new low with the latest customer survey showing the big four suffering drops in their overall rating.

Property developer Aspen Group has locked in $41 million from its planned $82.4 million capital raising, with the institutional component oversubscribed.

Woodside Petroleum has entered a deal with Apache Corporation for the supply of gas from two Western Australian fields for a second processing train at its Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility.

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

RESIDENTIAL property developers and builders were big winners from state and federal budget initiatives, which will provide much-needed stimulus to the property industry.

LAST week, the Baltic Dry index, which is a benchmark measure for freight costs of bulk commodities including iron ore, coal and grains, rose 22.

THE state government has established a working group to review energy infrastructure options in the Mid West after its surprise decision to defer the upgrade of the transmission line to Geraldton.

PERTH miner Norseman Gold is shaping up to be the second Western Australian company to list on the Australian Securities Exchange this calendar year.

ALCOA of Australia managing director Alan Cransberg, Hawaiian property group manager Kate O'Hara (pictured) and KPMG tax partner Craig Yaxley have been appointed to the Black Swan State Theatre Compan

The collapse of two agribusiness companies in less than a month has raised doubts over the sector's viability.

JODY Elliot launched recruitment website Mineblogger at the height of the resources boom to assist organisations dealing with the shortage of skilled labour.

East Energy Resources managing director Mark Brusa has spent more than $3.1 million buying shares in the company as part of a rights issue.

WESTERN Australia's energy users have developed a gas security plan they believe should be implemented to the benefit of the domestic power sector.

A MICROFINANCE program that provides a safe line of affordable credit to low income earners in Western Australia is creeping closer to a $500,000 milestone.

THE Note has noticed the closing gap in what was once a yawning chasm between the arts and sport.

As the state rushes to commit to a port at Oakajee, it would do well to heed the warnings of previous infrastructure arrangements.

Brewing major Lion Nathan has teamed up with industry stalwart Danny Kapinkoff and his son, Robert, in a microbrewery venture. Adam Orlando reports.

PERTH'S median land price fell 3.9 per cent in the December quarter 2008, but still remains the second most expensive in the country behind Sydney.

THERE is growing speculation that some grain traders are considering establishing their own port-based grain loading facilities to take advantage of the deregulated export environment and challenge the monopoly of grains handler CBH.

State and federal budgets provide some welcome, but unexpected, outcomes.

TWO Western Australian quasi-government agencies will pocket almost $120,000 in funding under the federal government's Enterprise Connect's small grants round, designed for remote and regional small t

THE building and construction sector has welcomed the state government's record capital works program, as the industry looks to the government to stimulate activity while private sector investment languishes.

If we are to have a carbon tax, it's important we get it right – first time.