Janelle Macri

JUST 18 months out from the introduction of a national emissions trading scheme, uncertainty still overrides the debate over how the scheme will directly, and indirectly, affect some of Western Australia's largest businesses.

THE credit crunch continues to tighten conditions in the Perth property market, with some new apartment developments requiring close to 100 per cent pre-sale to proceed.

SOME of the state's largest greenhouse gas emitters have called for a moderate introduction of the emissions trading scheme to protect the country's emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries.

THE residential population of the area encompassed by the City of Perth is forecast to double in the next 20 years, as the number of new dwellings and net migration numbers grow.

THE Links Kennedy Bay golf course has been re-opened under new management with developer Mirvac taking over the role after the former manager was placed into administration.

A REPORT released this week has provided the first accurate and detailed picture of the Western Australian forestry industry, which employs 5,570 people, half of whom rely on native forest resources.

THE state government has lifted the moratorium on the commercial production of genetically modified cotton in the Ord River Irrigation Area, renewing calls for it to move on the Ord Stage Two project.

CALLING the bottom in any bust cycle is always highly contentious, even more so in the context of the current global economic crisis.

RESIDENTIAL developers are beginning to see the effects of sliding interest rates and boosts to the first homeowners grant, with some recording a significant increase in traffic through sales offices.

THE Margaret River wine region welcomed its newest microbrewery late last month with the opening of the $10 million Saracen Estate/Duckstein microbrewery.

THE developers of what will become Perth's tallest residential tower remain confident the project will be completed by the end of the year.

FOR someone who wasn't even a member of a political party just four years ago, Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has settled comfortably into his new, if somewhat unexpected, role.

Property developer Nigel Satterley believes the Perth residential property market is virtually at the bottom of its downward cycle, with increases to the first home owners grant and the drop in interest rates injecting some stimulus into the market.

Despite the global downturn, the retail market is confident the significant amount of retail space under construction will be absorbed.

THE development of so-called "main street" or strip shopping centres around the city has created another viable retail category outside of the traditional suburban and CBD shopping centres.

LOW-COST carrier Jetstar has expanded its domestic offering for the Perth market, adding two extra services out of Perth commencing in February 2009.

THE global financial crisis continues to take its toll on the construction industry, with more than half of the state's builders indicating they will be reducing subcontractor numbers in the next 12 months.

WA Business News' fourth annual State Economic Review comes at a time when the world economic system is facing its greatest challenge for decades.

INTERNATIONAL visitor numbers to Western Australia reached record highs in 2007-08, while domestic tourism continued to struggle.

THE value of the state's mineral and petroleum industry increased by 9 per cent on last year, with the industry generating $58.

THE state government posted a record surplus in 2007-08 of $2.56 billion, fuelled by significant growth in mining royalties and taxation revenue.

WESTERN Australia had a trade surplus of $41.

THE Western Australian economy ended the 2007-08 financial year on a positive note, with most of the growth again driven by increased business investment.

The Chinese economy is expected to remain resilient over the next financial year and is well placed to weather a downturn in the global economy, according to CommSec.

WESTERN Australia's tourism industry has called on the new state government to fast-track tourism developments in the city and regional areas and help combat the labour shortage.

BUNBURY will get its first new hotel in almost 10 years this Christmas with the opening of The Mantra Bunbury, attached to the Silos apartment development on the Koombana waterfront.

A 15,000 square metre beachfront site in the coastal holiday town of Lancelin will soon be home to a luxury bungalow-style resort, the first development of its kind for the town.

THE business of putting more trees in the ground and keeping them there may soon become one of the more viable options for the forestry sector, with two announcements this week a sign of the times.

THE details of the federal government's carbon trading system may not be finalsied, but one Western Australian carbon offset trader is hoping its early adopter status will be an advantage in the new legislative environment.

TWO Western Australian solar firms have secured their biggest contracts to date.

THE waste sector has thrown its support behind the inclusion of waste emissions in the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, saying it will set a price signal to encourage economically and environmentally efficient solutions in waste reduction, recycling, wa

THE list of carbon-offset firms in Western Australia continues to grow, as a new player with a combined horticultural/carbon sink project looks to enter the market.