Augusta-Margaret River Times

An artist's impression of the new Fini hotel slated for Margaret River's town centre.

net positive?Margaret River hotel returns for second bite at council

A contentious project billed as “Australia’s first net positive circular hotel” will be reconsidered by the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council next week

Warren Hately

Firefighters gather during the 2021 Calgardup bushfire that destroyed 8000ha of national park south of Margaret River.

look to the skiesStarlink investment crucial to overcome bushfire shortfalls

Shire of Augusta-Margaret River bushfire brigades are eyeing a major contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Warren Hately

Creative Tech Village director Mat Lewis.

Creative sectorCreatives get prime support with Bandwidth

Help is at hand for Capes creatives looking to step up their game and develop a sustainable, satisfying career.

Warren Hately

Britain's Professor A.C. Grayling addresses the audience at last year's Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival.

literary festFestival program expands for 2025

Tickets have gone on sale this week for May’s Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival which is boasting a mix of new and returning talent and an expanded program.

Warren Hately

Okie Fraser won the top Open Men's competition.

SurfingTalents shine at Surf Masters

Home ground advantage and tonnes of talent helped elevate local surfers at the WA Surf Masters Championships held at Gas Bay at the weekend.

Warren Hately

Reece Whitby now has the tourism portfolio as part of a ministerial reshuffle this week.

yes ministerSector welcomes Whitby to tourism role despite concerns

The tourism industry has welcomed Reece Whitby as the new tourism minister, but backstage pundits are frustrated the key role continues to be a game of musical chairs.

Warren Hately

walking planGnarabup residents still to weigh in on contentious plan

Coastal residents will be offered a chance to provide further feedback on a plan initially pitched to reroute part of the region’s iconic Cape-to-Cape Track through neighbourhood streets.

Warren Hately

The prohibited burning period has been extended for the first time this year.

‘new normal’Burning season extension could become permanent

Fire authorities have extended the region’s prohibited burning period to at least March 28 amid concerns about dry conditions.

Warren Hately

Liberal Party candidate Wade De Campo (right) with polling booth volunteer Alex Tenby.

Election raceClosest of margins in Warren-Blackwood electoral count

Labor’s chances for Warren-Blackwood have slowly evaporated in a neck-and-neck race between opposition parties.

Warren Hately

Concerns have spilled over onto social media about the summer influx of van travellers taking up spaces at key locations.

Regional WASouth West locals fume over annual ‘backpacker problem’

‘It’s long past due that the shire got proactive and managed this annual problem.’

Warren Hately

Chardonnay harvesting under way at Howard Park Wines.

snappy season‘Fast and furious’ season for Margaret River vintage

Howard Park maestro Jeff Burch says this year’s vintage was “fast and furious” and looking great, especially for white wines.

Warren Hately

Augusta residents have been warned about a seasonal toxic threat to dogs.

dogs on leashAugusta warned as toxic ‘slug’ sea hares return

Dog owners are on notice after hundreds of toxic sea hares once again washed up in Augusta last week.

Warren Hately

Serena Leotta with her children Freyja, 9, and Will, 17.

rental crisisCrisis underscored by doubled rents since pandemic

South West Families are feeling the strain, with new figures revealing the region’s median rents have almost doubled since the pandemic.

Warren Hately

women’s dayInternational Women’s Day celebrated in style

International Women’s Day was celebrated at Cape Mentelle on Friday, coinciding with the Margaret River Business Network’s 10th year of running the event.

Warren Hately

surfingCowaramup Bay Boardriders leading in swell season

The Cowaramup Bay Boardriders season is under way for 2025 with club regulars enjoying a competition at the weekend in good conditions

Warren Hately

Opposition Leader Shane Love has formally written to the Corruption and Crime Commission requesting an investigation into political donations made by PersolKelly and its affiliated entities,

political concernsCommission defends count delay

The WA Electoral Commission says it was business as usual with the vote count for Warren-Blackwood despite the crawl towards a final result

Warren Hately

Margaret River-based Melissa d'Ath made a run for the WA Upper House at last weekend’s election for Legalise Cannabis WA.

upper housed’Ath loss a gain for residents

Bad news for Upper House candidate Melissa d’Ath is good news for ratepayers.

Warren Hately

A lime pit decision off Caves Road will feature in an upcoming State Administrative Tribunal challenge.

Tribunal call-upTribunal appeal for restricted Caves Road lime pit

The Shire will be hauled before WA’s State Administrative Tribunal to defend a deeply unpopular decision made in January affecting one of the region’s most crucial lime and sand pits

Warren Hately

Concerns are mounting about damage to key beaches such as Kilcarnup and Joeys Nose.

coastal concernsStakeholders share message to protect vulnerable coast

Some of Margaret River’s key custodians have ramped up their concerns about off-road vehicles destroying the iconic beaches of the Cape to Cape region

Warren Hately