Infrastructure

The state government says it will wait for an indication of federal funding for the $1.5 billion development of the Oakajee port and rail project before finalising an agreement with the proponent.

The state government is seeking public comment on a new rail-based transport connection in Kwinana to alleviate heavy vehicles using main roads between Fremantle and Forrestfield.

THE Western Australian government is being urged to make up its mind on its plans for the future of Fremantle's inner harbour.

THE controversy over lead exports from Esperance may have attracted intense public focus over the past two years, but a potentially larger commercial issue that remains unresolved is the future of bulk nickel concentrate exports.

Fortescue Metals Group has told engineering company NRW Holdings to walk off the Cloudbreak-to-Christmas Creek rail line site in the Pilbara because construction has been deferred.

Yilgarn Infrastructure has continued its rearguard bid for a slice of the planned Oakajee port and rail project, claiming today that its Chinese partners would not work directly with the government's preferred bidder.

West Perth-based IronClad Mining has entered into an agreement with a Chinese steel making company over the development of two of its iron ore projects in South Australia.

Murchison Metals has disclosed that the state government is requiring it to include Chinese suppliers in its $1.5 billion Oakajee port and rail infrastructure project.

Engineering firm, SKM has taken out the top prize at the Engineers Australia, Engineering Excellence Awards for its work on Rio Tinto Iron Ore's US$1.4 billion Dampier Port Upgrade in the Pilbara, with two Western Australians taking out individual honours

IN her doctorate on the impact of fly in, fly out (FIFO) on workers, the University of Western Australia's Susan Clifford has found that FIFO is not having the deleterious effect the tabloid headlines would have us believe.

TRANSPARENCY is a fascinating concept and last week I encountered two vastly different examples of its application, or more accurately, its absence.

THE global financial crisis may be pushing down energy prices, but there are concerns that this could ultimately hurt local power users more than benefit them.

Canning Vale-based electrical contractor, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Australia took out the Industrial category award for excellence at the National Electrical and Communications Association Awards held last week.

The Western Australian government has set aside almost $6 million in funding for major regional projects.

EFTel has formed a strategic partnership with NEXTEP Broadband, a division of NEC Australia, which will see the Perth-based internet service provider expand its BroadbandNext network by 55 additional sites.

THE debate over infrastructure provision in WA has taken many intriguing twists and turns since the election of the Barnett government.

IF the economic slowdown has some in the Western Australian engineering sector looking over their shoulders, Maunsell AECOM is claiming not to be one of them.

West Perth-based Iron Ore Holdings has discovered a new high-grade iron ore deposit at its 100%-owned Weeli Wolli Project near Yandicoogina in the Pilbara.

The North West Iron Ore Alliance has appointed former chief executive of the Association of Mining & Exploration Companies (AMEC), Dr Justin Walawski, as its chief executive.

Atlas Iron has hauled the first iron ore shipment from its Pardoo Iron Ore Project to Fortescue Metals Group's port facilities in Port Hedland.

Burke charged with corruption; State projects get the axe as cash dries up; Receivers refuse to guarantee ABC child-care centres will stay open; ASIC won't intervene in Incremental bid; Rudd goes local with $1bn spend

AS someone who prefers small perfectly formed objects as opposed to monolithic structures, when it comes to business, the government's decision to carve up two Labor-created super departments is something I'd generally welcome.

Perth-based Bauxite Resources Ltd has entered into an off-take agreement with a Chinese alumina producer to supply all of its entire requirements.

Shares in Atlas Iron Ltd have jumped over 30 per cent on news the miner is on the verge of signing a long-term off-take deal as it sells its first iron ore shipment from its Pilbara project.

IF media attention and headlines are anything to go by, then Brendon Grylls is very much the most influential of the new ministry surrounding Premier Colin Barnett.

SO far there have been two unwelcomed signals from the Barnett-Grylls alliance.

THE Shire of Augusta-Margaret River won the 2008 Water Awards’ highest honour – the Award for Excellence – for its water efficient initiatives.

The state opposition has questioned Premier Colin Barnett's economic credibility after he requested federal government money for the Oakajee port project, which already has private sector funding.

A day after Treasurer Wayne Swan declared BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto's Pilbara rail lines open to third parties, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd says it has written to the mining giants seeking a rail co-operation deal.

Shares in Coote Industrial Ltd have bucked the broad downward trend of the market, jumping over 30 per cent in morning trade on a please explain note from the Australian Securities Exchange.

Premier Colin Barnett has outlined the state government's top infrastructure priorities in a submission to the federal government's Infrastructure Australia fund.

In a major upset to BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, Treasurer Wayne Swan has declared the iron ore giants' Pilbara rail lines open for a period of 20 years.