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Augusta-Margaret River Times

Architect and My Home chair Michelle Blakeley is leading a project to address homelessness in Margaret River.

housing crisisPremiumHousing crisis village plan for town centre

A social housing developer is in early talks to switch its Margaret River focus to the disused Water Corporation depot on Willmott Avenue to develop housing for those most at risk of homelessness

Warren Hately

Daisy Ridley in We Bury the Dead, one of the films in this year’s CinefestOZ Film Festival.

Film FestivalPremiumAustralia’s best feature films on show in the South West

The 2025 CinefestOZ Film Festival will be making its way through Busselton, Bunbury and Margaret River from August 30 to September 7, showcasing four Australian films, all in the running to win $100,000. 

Craig Duncan

The Margaret River Senior High School combined country week volleyball squads features players from Years 10 to 12.

volleyballPremiumSchool volleyball squads blitz South West rivals

Margaret River Senior High School’s volleyball teams will be hoping to come back from country week with some silverware after a blitzkrieg performance in Busselton last fortnight.

Warren Hately

DICE will be headlining this year’s Shelter the Storm event at Shelter Brewing.

Cabin FeverPremiumCabin Fever Festival announces live music lineup

Cabin Fever has dropped the line-up for their live music events across the Margaret River and Busselton regions, with beats, brews and good times on offer. 

Daniel Hocking

Passengers disembark from the maiden Perth to Busselton flight on the QantasLink F-100.

FIRST LANDING PremiumQantasLink’s maiden flight from Perth lands in Busselton

QantasLink’s controversial Perth to Busselton flight made it’s first trip on Friday afternoon, landing at Busselton Margaret River Airport as a push for accessibility and tourism.

Daniel Hocking

Impressions of the Gnarabup Tourism Development: Resort and Beach Village.

minister’s decisionPremiumGroups circle Saracen resort project

A slew of groups have lodged objections to the environmental approval for a contentious resort at Gnarabup, including the Wildflower Society of WA.

Warren Hately

Maggie Dent pictured with Cowaramup Primary School students earlier this year.

taking actionPremiumCowaramup parents band together for smartphone ban pledge

A group of Cowaramup parents have formed a new alliance based around a pledge not to give their children smartphones until they turn 16.

Warren Hately

Lifestyle appeal is one of the prime factors still driving a surge of interest in Margaret River real estate.

real estatePremiumMargaret River and Gelorup predicted to cross $1 million

Margaret River is among the locations nationwide poised to join an exclusive real estate club.

Warren Hately

One of the pieces created by Soleil Heimlich incorporating ocean debris.

microplasticsPremiumOcean artist draws inspiration from dark tide

A South West artist who incorporates marine debris into her work is encouraging beachgoers to take some rubbish home with them as a reminder of the region’s precious coastline.

Warren Hately

Margaret River Future Council members during October's Beach Clean-Up.

beach alertPremiumConservationists fear rising tide of microplastics

Concerns are rising about an increase in microplastics littering Capes beaches

Warren Hately

Regional Development and Local Government Minister Kristy McBain. NewsWire/Martin Ollman

historic reversalPremiumMinister says final inquiry report key to future funding

The Federal Regional Development and Local Government Minister says a key review into Commonwealth funding for councils will lead to an outcome during this term of government

Warren Hately

A major retail precinct is coming to Rapids Landing.

major projectPremiumResidents in queue for supermarket update

Residents will have a chance to get more details about a proposed new shopping precinct long anticipated for Margaret River’s Rapids Landing subdivision

Warren Hately

Surfing WA chief executive Mark Lane.

not finePremiumKarri Karrak defends Surfing WA charges

Don Punch has declined to comment directly on reports the region’s Indigenous corporation sought restitution from Surfing WA in the wake of complaints about alleged misuse of heritage sites

Warren Hately

Nationals WA MP Bevan Eatts says Warren-Blackwood communities are sick of being ignored by Labor.

State BudgetPremiumPollies blast State Budget’s lack of local focus

The Capes region’s two Opposition MPs have unloaded on the State Government for dismissing the Augusta-Margaret River shire’s needs in last week’s Budget.

Warren Hately

Margaret River Hospital.

dead issuePremiumBudget shortfall bad news for Margaret River Hospital

Labor has persistently declined to offer any timeline on a seemingly shelved master plan to expand Margaret River Hospital which stakeholders fear could signal the end of the project.

Warren Hately and Amber Lilley

Phill Cronin

ambitions groundedPremiumConfusion after Busselton Airport abandoned in State Budget

City of Busselton Mayor Phill Cronin has cornered the Premier to ask what else needs to be done for the State Government to advance ambitions for Busselton Airport.

Warren Hately and Amber Lilley

Xanadu Wines chief winemaker Glenn Goodall was thrilled at the prestigious Decanter award.

wine awardsPremiumXanadu Wines scores at Decanter global wine awards

Xanadu Wines have topped the Decanter World Wine Awards, an achievement which lauded the Margaret River wine region’s contribution to the national scene.

Warren Hately

Winemaker Mike Gadd in China with Master of Wine Lin Lio and Shepherd Winery owner Zhang Da.

chinese whispersPremiumWine exporters to China wary of future challenges

Margaret River producers are moving far more slowly and with greater caution since trade resumed with what was once the region’s biggest trading partner

Warren Hately

Augusta-Margaret River celebrate a goal.

FootballPremiumSWFL: Hawks on wrong end of thriller against Panthers

Augusta-Margaret River were on the wrong end of a South West Football League thriller against Carey Park at Kelly Park on Sunday, going down by two points.

Josh Kempton

Jack Medland claimed the top gong.

SurfingPremiumMedland, Flynn among State champions

A raft of new State champions were crowned in the longboard format at Denmark at the weekend’s 2025 WA Longboard Championships at Parry Beach.

Warren Hately

New Zealander Aaron Jaggar will take up the reins at Nature Conservation Margaret River Region later this month.

Changing guardPremiumJaggar new Nature Conservation chief

The region’s peak conservation body has named a new chief executive to replace veteran landcare expert Drew McKenzie.

Warren Hately

Vintage 2024 was a return to classic conditions.

vintage reportPremium‘Fast and furious’ vintage comes up trumps for winemakers

The wine industry was this week boasting of a return to “classic conditions” with the figures now in from vintage 2025.

Warren Hately

Impressions of the Gnarabup Tourism Development: Resort and Beach Village.

protest continuesPremium‘Inappropriate’: South West resort appeal stirs clash

Multiple appeals have been lodged against a contentious resort project flagged for the Gnarabup headland, including one from the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River. 

Warren Hately

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.

trying againPremiumFresh consultation on divisive strategy

A key local government policy document that stirred angst in the south of the shire earlier this year is going out for formal comment after councillors intervened.

Warren Hately