Fraser Beattie

The state government has named a consortium led by Leighton Contractors as the preferred proponent for construction of the $500 million Roe 8 highway project, which is the first leg of the contentious Perth Freight Link.

Byrnecut subsidiary Murray Engineering has expanded interstate with the acquisition of electrical and mechanical engineering business SRO Group for an undisclosed sum.

Oil and gas company AWE has sold its stake in the Cliff Head offshore oil project to Elixir Petroleum, for an upfront payment of $1 million.

An independent panel has endorsed the proposed development of a liquefied natural gas precinct at James Price Point near Broome, but the recommendation may have little impact as project developers led by Woodside Petroleum have shifted their focus to floating LNG developments.

Metals X’s $82 million takeover offer for embattled copper miner Aditya Birla Minerals won’t succeed after the target’s largest shareholder said it wouldn’t be accepting the offer.

A consortium including Programmed Maintenance Services has been named the preferred bidder for the ACT’s $150 million Law Courts Public Private Partnership, while the state government has signed a contract for Western Australia’s first schools PPP.

Subiaco-based Nemex Resources has abandoned plans to wholly acquire Wavefront Biometric Technologies, but will instead raise capital and secure a majority stake in the target.

Atlas Iron says it achieved its annual production rate target four months early while reducing costs during the September quarter, and has started working towards a new iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

Investors have welcomed news that engineering and contracting firm Monadelphous Group has teamed up with a family-owned company in the US to target work in the shale gas industry.