Fraser Beattie

SPECIAL REPORT: The gold royalty hike proposed in this month’s state budget has stunned the sector, amid big spending plans for the year ahead.

Sheffield Resources is set to receive a mining lease for its Thunderbird mineral sands project near Derby, after the Federal Court threw out a native title appeal by a local Aboriginal group.

Adelaide-based tech company MGM Wireless has won a contract to provide its low-cost messaging app to all public schools in Western Australia for an undisclosed sum.

The state government has set itself the target of increasing the number of women appointed to its boards, committees and advisory bodies to 50 per cent by 2019, though it has a long way to go before hitting gender equality at its major trading enterprises.

Ramelius Resources is set to become a 200,000 ounces per annum gold producer after acquiring Evolution Mining’s Edna May operation near Merredin for up to $90 million in cash and shares.

Two of the largest contracts held by fallen Perth company Brierty have been terminated, as uncertainty hangs around the company’s future after last week's appointment of administrators.

Gas explorer Triangle Energy Global has announced plans to spin-out one of its subsidiaries into a new entity and float it on the ASX.

Junior explorer Peel Mining has announced plans to spin-off its Apollo Hill gold project near Leonora into a new company and list it on the ASX by way of an initial public offering.

Poseidon Nickel is in discussions with Empire Resources for the processing of gold ore at its mothballed Black Swan processing facility near Kalgoorlie, while Empire has secured two loan deals to help pay for essential mining costs.