Cook Government looks to merge four of WA's public universities into two
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Cook Government looks to merge four of WA's public universities into two
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West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Kimberley road works funded in State Government's Road Safety cash injection
Two road works in the Kimberley will receive funding as part of the State Government's 2025-26 Black Spot Program. Lakeview Drive in Kununurra will be funded to the tune of $227,526 for stage one works, widening the narrow seal on the road, upgrading pedestrian paths and installing pavement markings, signs and delineation. Stage two of the project is to be funded in the future with a total cost of $436,871. Fairbairn Street in Derby will also receive upgrades, widening the seal, formal parking and bus bays, install pedestrian path, kerbing and upgrade lighting at Derby Senior High School at the cost of $75,000 for stage one. Stage two will be funded in the future with a total cost of $1,057,963. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the injection was the biggest investment the State Government had ever made through the two road safety programs. 'Improving road safety is a high priority for our government, which is why we continue to make significant investments to upgrade roads across WA,' she said. 'We know that small changes can make a massive difference when it comes to road safety, and the investment we're announcing today will support upgrades at more than 100 locations around the State.' Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the funded projects have a proven crash history or are high risk for drivers. 'Which is why the Cook Government is ramping up its efforts to fund important projects like these,' he said. 'Despite another devastating year so far in road fatalities, we're working hard in delivering road upgrades, increasing the safety for all drivers across our State. The funding is a part of the State Government's $57 million injection to more than 100 projects across WA under the 2025-26 Black Spot Program and the Safer Roads Program.
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
SailabilityWA amongst clubs at risk of potential closure following announcement of Matilda Bay ferry terminal
The West Australian exclusive SailabilityWA amongst clubs at risk of potential closure following announcement of Matilda Bay ferry terminal
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Tough WA fishing rules fail to protect 'sustainability' of dhufish
Despite two years of tough fishing restrictions along the West Australian coast, a confidential report has revealed the population of demersal fish has not improved and even declined for the dhufish. In 2022, the McGowan Labor government introduced new fishing rules and catch restrictions in the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery (WCDSF) in a bid to boost the recovery of key species such as snapper, baldchin groper and dhufish. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has not publicly released a stock assessment report on the fishery since its 2021 report, which looked at the coastline from Kalbarri to Augusta. Managing director of think-tank Sustainable Seafood Australia, Darryl Hockey, supplied the ABC with a briefing note he secured under Freedom of Information, sent by the state's scientists to the then Fisheries minister Don Punch in February 2024, on the WCDSF. The briefing note from DPIRD said the status of dhufish had "escalated from high to severe risk," while snapper remained at severe risk and baldchin groper at high risk. The government has not publicly released the referenced stock assessment report. Mr Hockey said the government must act swiftly and further cut fishing catch limits to protect dhufish, such as slashing boat limits from four per day to one. And he said the government needed to be transparent and release the stock assessment, which is regarded as a key "health check" of the fishery. "The alarm bells should be ringing," Mr Hockey said. The 2021 stock assessment report states that DPIRD tracks recovery progress by undertaking weight of evidence every three to five years. Mr Hockey has also accused the government of "sitting on" its latest recreational fishing survey. This survey is also conducted by DPIRD and estimates the recreational sector's catch through measures such as phone surveys, boat ramp surveys and remote camera monitoring. In the same briefing note sent to the previous minister in February last year, it flags the recreational boat fishing survey to be finalised in early 2025. Mr Hockey said with the information in hand, the new Fisheries] Minister Jackie Jarvis was in a position to to make an important decision of the sustainability of this fishery,. "The management settings put in place by Minister Punch were ridiculous," he said. "It's most important that we have mandatory real-time electronic reporting of [recreational] catches because if you can't measure it you can't manage it. "If you're going to make decisions to protect the fishery, surely you need to have accurate measurements, and that can only be done electronically through an app." Calls for mandatory electronic reporting of catches have been backed by groups such as the WA Fishing Industry Council and the Western Rock Lobster Council, but are opposed by recreational groups such as RecFish West. Jackie Jarvis was appointed as the Fisheries Minister in April this year. She was unavailable to speak to the ABC. In a statement, she said the DPIRD undertook ongoing stock assessments to monitor WA's fish resources. "I am awaiting updated stock assessments, including commercial and recreational catch information, and have committed to industry and stakeholders that there will be broad consultation once this assessment data has been finalised," Ms Jarvis said.
