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.
MINERAL and petroleum commodities dominate Western Australian exports, with iron ore alone accounting for almost one-third of the state's total exports.
SMALL Western Australian-based renewable energy technology exporters are reaping the rewards of lucrative overseas market opportunities, as the global momentum towards sustainability continues to build.
THE expansion of existing iron ore projects, and the commissioning of new mines, is expected to increase pressure on the Pilbara's already squeezed port and rail infrastructure.
THE resources sector may generate the lion's share of the state's export revenue, but the agricultural industry is also creating significant revenues, particularly grain exports.
A MANDATORY renewable energy target of 20 per cent would add up to $300 million a year to the cost of producing aluminium in Australia, according the country's leading producer.
DEVELOPERS and planners in the Mid West should learn from the Pilbara to better understand the pressures that come along with being a 'boom town', according to Carr Civil Contracting managing director Mark Blayney.
The federal government will commit $100 million a year to a Global Institute, based in Australia, aimed at accelerating the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
TOWN planner Brian Hunt spent a lot of his professional life working to develop the Swan Valley region, so perhaps it was no surprise that he would eventually turn his knowledge of the area, and his passion for wine, into a business.
SKYWEST says its investments in an expanded jet fleet and overcoming congestion issues at Perth airport will substantially improve its struggling on-time performance.
INTERNATIONAL visitors to Western Australia are still spending more and staying longer than visitors to any other state, according to the latest international visitor survey by Tourism Research Australia.
WHILE the Pilbara may be the centre of the state's resources industry, developers are also realising the region's tourism potential with a number of hotel developments planned over the coming years.
The wealth of major project activity in Western Australia has been a boon for local contracting firms, which are reaping the rewards of record high bidding activity in both the infrastructure and resources sectors.
THE resources sector has not been reassured by Ross Garnaut's latest report on a national emissions trading scheme, despite the 10 per cent reduction target by 2020 being labelled too low by environmental groups.
