Albany business owners say the closure of the city's liquefied petroleum gas network threatens their operations. Energy provider ATCO Australia announced in January that it would decommission the network over three years, citing ageing infrastructure and high maintenance costs. Freedom of Information documents show ATCO and the state government discussed the network's future in May 2025, eight months before customers were told. Mayor Greg Stocks said the city should have been informed sooner.
The City of Albany has announced the death of former mayor and Honorary Freeman of the City Dennis Wellington. He served 23 years as an elected member and 12 years as mayor, the longest of any Albany mayor. In May 2026 he was made an Honorary Freeman of the City for his service. Current Albany Mayor Greg Stocks said Mr Wellington's death would be felt deeply across the community. The City has extended its condolences to his family and friends.
Downer Group has been appointed to deliver upgrades to Albany Airport in Western Australia, with construction expected to begin in late 2026. The works include strengthening and resurfacing the main runway, improving taxiways, aprons and airfield lighting, and drainage. The upgrades will allow the airport to handle larger aircraft with up to 100 seats. The project is funded through federal, state and City of Albany contributions totalling about $44 million. Officials say the airport will support passenger services, FIFO charter flights, Royal Flying Doctor Service operations and firefighting aircraft.
The small cruise ship Coral Geographer left Fremantle on Wednesday evening, just after 5 pm. Earlier reporting had said she was bound for Broome, but she is actually heading south with an overnight stop off Rottnest. Coral Expeditions runs 54 WA departures this year, including six-night Fremantle to Albany return cruises in October. Several larger cruise ships are scheduled to visit later in the year, including Crown Princess in October and Viking Orion in December.
A weekly events guide lists activities across Albany and the Great Southern from October 15 to 21. The Frankland River Wine Festival runs on Saturday at the Frankland River Town Oval. The Let's Shine All Ability Dance Showcase is held at Albany Port Theatre on Friday. Art exhibitions, music performances, roller derby and a talk by meditation master Ajahn Brahm also feature across the week.
Police are investigating a suspicious fire in bushland in Orana that was sparked late on Monday afternoon. Neighbours reported smoke from a bush reserve at the end of Abercorn Street at about 4.40pm. Two crews from Albany Fire and Rescue Service put out the 15 metre by 15 metre blaze by 5.10pm. Firefighters found at least three ignition points and handed the scene to police. WA Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers, with rewards of up to $25,000 offered for information leading to an arsonist's conviction.
A woman who hid an Apple Airtag in her ex-partner's car to track him has been sentenced in court. Police found her DNA on the duct tape used to attach the tag to the vehicle. Sarah Denise Leyshon, 35, was charged with unlawful use of a tracking device after her former partner found the tag on May 9, 2026. Leyshon denied placing the tag, but she entered a guilty plea and did not appear for sentencing. Magistrate Rosemarie Myers called the behaviour concerning and fined her $1500.
Albany artist Colin Hanssen, who has cerebral palsy and is largely non-verbal, is preparing his first collection for Perth galleries. The 31-year-old paints with his right hand and wheelchair, combining performance with abstract work. He took up painting six months ago in an art therapy class, and his recent selection for the Southern Art and Craft Trail has drawn wide interest. Art therapist Serena McLaughlan says many of his paintings draw on his time living in Africa. Two Perth gallery artists have asked him to exhibit with them.
Residents of Western Australia may see the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, on Friday after a geomagnetic storm was forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology. The phenomenon usually appears as a faint glow on the horizon, though stronger activity can bring greens, pinks and purples. Astronomer Matt Woods said sightings are rare in 2026 because the sun is at the start of its 11-year cycle. Viewers should head away from city lights, face the southern horizon, and wait 75 to 90 minutes after sunset. Esperance and Albany were named as the best WA locations.
Events in Albany and the Great Southern region this week include a free Food for Life program, a Community Bank All Abilities Ball, and the Southern Art + Craft Trail. Other activities range from lantern making and conservation workshops to live music and art exhibitions. The Albany Boatshed Markets and a Bargain Bonanza are also scheduled for the weekend. WA Bike Month and National Ride2Work Day are highlighted for the following week.
A Kalgoorlie player and a Perth southern suburbs player each won $1.5 million division one prizes in the Saturday Lotto draw. The Kalgoorlie ticket was sold at Kalgoorlie Newsagency, the first division one jackpot from the city this year. The Perth-area ticket was bought at Wattleup News and Post, the first major win for owner Lien Nguyen since she took over five years ago. Lotterywest congratulated both stores and wished the winners well. The winning numbers were 32, 44, 40, 13, 18 and 42, with supplementary numbers 37 and 27.
A popular bowling alley in Perth's north has closed indefinitely after a fire broke out on Monday evening. Rosemount Bowl on Fitzgerald Street in North Perth was evacuated, along with the nearby Pot Black and Bloodlines venues. The business said at about 10pm that everyone had left safely and no one was hurt. The fire is not believed to be suspicious and is being managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. A witness claims the blaze started in the kitchen, but this has not been officially confirmed.
WA police will use a new drone program to gather real-time intelligence before officers reach emergencies. Drones will launch from docking stations in Kwinana, Rockingham and Baldivis and can operate beyond line of sight. They will be dispatched from a command centre in Perth. Police Minister Reece Whitby says the program is an Australian first. Targeted uses include family and domestic violence matters, missing persons, crimes in progress and stolen vehicles.
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Woodside Energy's plan to drill for gas off Western Australia's north-west coast could significantly damage coral reefs and endangered turtles, according to a draft letter from the state's environmental watchdog. The letter, written in 2023 and seen by the Guardian, said the company's protections for turtles and blue whales near Scott Reef would be ineffective. In February 2024, the watchdog told Woodside it planned to reject the project. Woodside has since added shear rams to its drilling plans, a step it says would limit the length of any well blowout.
Year 11 Homestead Senior Secondary College student Chucky Mercer has qualified to compete in the 200m at the All Schools National Finals in Perth this December. Mercer has an intellectual disability and competes in the T20 para-athletics classification. He has won gold in the 200m and 1500m at the Victorian All Schools Championships and the 3000m at the Western Metropolitan Region Championships. Mercer trains four times a week alongside his studies and family commitments. He hopes to compete at the 2032 Paralympics in Brisbane, his birth city.
Australian shares fell on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX200 index down 0.25 per cent and the All Ordinaries down 0.19 per cent. Investors are cautious ahead of key economic data, interest rate decisions, and US tech earnings. Eight of 11 sectors declined, with financials and consumer staples weighing heavily. Star Entertainment shares surged 20 per cent after a strong earnings update, while SCX.ai joined Elon Musk's SpaceX Super Intelligence Partner Network. The Australian dollar dropped to 70.20 US cents.
West Australians who have not yet claimed their $100 fuel relief voucher and plan to submit a paper form are unlikely to receive the money before Christmas. Paper forms have been taking about 10 weeks to arrive, and a spokesperson advised applicants to allow nine to 10 weeks, with postage possibly longer in some regional areas. About $110 million has been paid to more than a million of the 2.3 million eligible licence holders since July 1.
Xpeng Motors Australia expects to have 66 retail locations across every state and territory by the end of 2026. The mid-size L03 SUV, priced from $41,900 before on-road costs, is due in showrooms before year's end. The company says it has processed more than 1400 customer enquiries and resolved 250 cases linked to promotional offers from its former distributor, TrueEV. Customers who bought through TrueEV and were promised offers can contact Xpeng ANZ, which says it is backing its vehicles with seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties.
BYD's premium brand Denza says the Z9 GT electric wagon will not reach Australia until the first half of 2027. A spokesperson said the company is juggling priorities and does not want to launch simply to meet a date. Denza had earlier planned a launch in the third quarter of 2026. The Z9 GT has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 2.7 seconds and a 1036km electric range under the CLTC cycle. Pricing for the Australian market has yet to be announced.
Porsche Cars Australia is recalling 77 of its 911 and 718 sports cars made in 2023 and 2024. A manufacturing defect in the centre-lock wheel nuts may cause a wheel to loosen and detach while driving. The recall covers several 911 and 718 models from the 992 and 982 generations. Porsche will contact owners and ask them to book a free repair at an authorised Porsche Centre. The 911 was previously recalled in March 2025 over a seatbelt issue.
Complaints about the Australian Taxation Office have risen sharply as the agency ramps up debt collection. The Tax Ombudsman received 2376 complaints in the six months to September, up 74 per cent on the same period last year. The office said it received 1358 complaints over that period, because the ombudsman's figures also included matters not involving the tax office. The ombudsman found the tax office acted reasonably in 63 per cent of debt collection complaints it investigated. Outstanding tax debt stood at $54.2 billion in 2024/25, with $35.9 billion owed by small businesses.
Electrical work in Western Australia must be carried out by licensed professionals, and checking a licence takes only a few minutes. Electrical worker and contractor licences can both be verified through the public online search run by Building and Energy, the state regulator. Customers should confirm the licence is current and the name matches. Unlicensed work can raise safety risks and may lead an home insurer to dispute a claim. Licensed contractors must also lodge a notice of completion after most work.
