The Lighter Note

Ore else

The Note reckons you can never get too much of a good thing, so with that in mind we couldn’t resist having a crack at the inner workings of the Global Iron Ore and Steel Forecast conference held in Perth last week.

Talkfests of any nature are confronted by last-minute changes in the itinerary, so we expected the usual alterations – with companies sending replacements for their headline acts.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore president and chief operating officer Ian Ashby (pictured) was one who sent along a replacement, as did Russell Scrimshaw from FMG.

But there was a lot more last-minute shuffling further down the order of proceedings, which shows how dynamic the local corporate scene is at the moment.

Giulio Casello was meant to front as chief operating officer for Sinosteel Midwest Corp, but had instead flown the ‘COOp’ to head up Sundance Resources.

Then there was Port Hedland Port Authority boss Andre Bush, who had decided to move into consulting.

And, of course, Garrett Dixon, who had just taken the fall at Gindalbie Metals.

Tennis anyone?

How quickly plans change.

The Burswood precinct and neighbouring Belmont Park race course have long been touted for redevelopment, from sports complexes to fancy high-rise apartments.

So it came as no shock to see Premier Colin Barnett touting the idea of razing the State Tennis Centre to build a footy stadium.

Lucky WA Planning Minister John Day didn’t commit too hard last year to a plan that included the possibility of the tennis centre and nearby golf course being redeveloped to become home to 7,000 people.

“The development of Burswood Peninsula will occur over several decades,” Mr Day said in June last year.