Infrastructure

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.

Shares in Atlas Iron have risen after the miner announced a five-fold resource increase at its Wodgina iron ore project near Port Hedland.

Treasurer Troy Buswell has again defended the government's decision to not release the State Infrastructure Strategy, saying its framewok needs to be revisited.

The government has committed to a $23.8 billion capital works program over the next four years - an increase on the $18.5 billion spent over the past four years - with a record $8.3 billion to be spent in 2009-10.

While the federal government's decision to invest in significant WA infrastructure projects has been welcomed, a business lobby group says the state's importance to the nation's economy has been undersold.

The federal government has allocated $236 million for the sinking of the Northbridge rail line as part of the $8 billion Building Australia fund, while the Fiona Stanley hospital will receive $255 million.

If you want to see a balancing act, get involved in infrastructure in the Mid West. That is where billions of dollars of investment - the most important we are told for the next 50 years - relies on numerous stakeholders coming together.

West Perth-based Galaxy Resources has selected a site in China for its proposed lithium carbonate plant that will process ore from its $68 million Mt Cattlin project near Ravensthorpe.

Macmahon Holdings has secured contracts for three major government water infrastructure projects on the east coast valued at $120 million.

Western Areas will have the right of first refusal over Kagara's Lounge Lizard nickel project after it struck a multi-million dollar deal to grant the latter company access.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has approved Anshan Iron and Steel Group Corporation's (Ansteel) $162 million acquisition of an additional stake in Gindalbie Metals.

Former Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Tim Shanahan has been appointed as the new chairman of the Pilbara Development Commission with Port Hedland Port Authority chief executive Andre Bush to be his deputy.

DESPITE trade volumes falling at Fremantle Port in recent months, complaints about delays at the wharf by members of the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia (CBFCA) suggest efficiency has not improved as expected.

THE rural townsite of Gidgegannup to the north east of Perth is perched for significant expansion if the master plan from property developer, Port Bouvard, lodged last week with the City of Swan and the Western Australian Planning Commission, receives app

THE current condition and future use of the rural rail system across Western Australia as part of the state's grain freight network continues to generate debate, as stakeholders seek a commitment from the government to support the ageing infrastructure.

Port Bouvard has lodged its master plan for the Gidgegannup townsite with the City of Swan and the Western Australian Planning Commission following 18 months of planning and environmental investigations.

Shares in Aurox Resources have surged after it received environmental approval for its Balla Balla magnetite iron ore project in the Pilbara in a move the company says will provide certainty for potential financiers.

Gindalbie Metals has welcomed the Environmental Protection Authority's long awaited report on its $1.8 billion Karara project but may appeal over the exclusion of one iron ore deposit in the project area.

A newly launched campaign to maintain the transport of grain on rail instead of roads has put the state's farm groups at odds.

West Coast Eagles chairman Mark Barnaba has joined the Western Power board as chairman Peter Mansell is re-appointed.

Bunnings Warehouse has outlined its growth plans for the state, with two new stores set to open this year and development approval being sought for another store in Forrestdale.

Shares in Port Bouvard have jumped as much as 20 per cent today as the property developer cleared a major hurdle for the its proposed Point Grey development near Mandurah.

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Atlas Iron says it will focus on attracting a suitable joint venture partner for its Ridley magnetite iron ore project in the Pilbara after a preliminary study estimated a capital cost of nearly $3 billion.

An estimated $2 billion will be invested by the private sector into the Northbridge Link as the state Planning Minister John Day marks the start of the final planning stage for the 13.5 hectare site.

Opposition leader Eric Ripper has accused the government of breaking an election promise after claiming a feasibility study into the Ellenbrook rail line had been cancelled.

A CITY of 1 million people located in the Pilbara.It's the sort of idea that makes people stop and think and, more often than not, baulk at the immensity of the proposal.

Perth-based engineering firm Macmahon Holdings and joint venture partner Leighton Holdings has secured a $500 million BHP Billiton contract for work on the miner's Rapid Growth Project 5 at the Pilbara iron ore operations.

The state government has claimed Cabinet confidentiality in its refusal to release the State Infrastructure Strategy despite the opposition's claims it will cause business confidence to continue to drop.

Residents in Esperance can breathe a sigh of relief after an independent expert review found the export of nickel through the town's port did not pose a health risk.

AS speculation abounds on the future of a national broadband network, an elite number of businesses already have access to, and are using, extraordinarily high speeds.

FREMANTLE Ports has revised its budgets and is closely monitoring current accounts and spending in light of tumbling trade figures and gloomy international forecasts.