Latest news with #JuliaMeldrum
ABC News
28-07-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Flash flooding in southern WA cuts off main road into Gracetown on weekend
Many residents in Western Australia's South West were cut off from their homes at the weekend due to flash flooding, as parts of the region copped more than 100 millimetres of rainfall. The main access road to Gracetown, about 270 kilometres south of Perth, was completely submerged on Sunday, as the South West was hit by harsh conditions for the third time this month. Local photographer Chloe Motzouris raced down to the Cowaramup Bay Road with her drone and children to check out the spectacle. "We had a hell of a lot of rain overnight … a good little adventure with my kids was to go down there and see how high the water had got in our favourite little creek," she said. "To our surprise, the water was over the road." Ms Motzouris said despite the conditions, some people ran the gauntlet and crossed the road. "Me and my little car were not going across there, that's for sure." Ms Motzouris believed it was close to 20 years since the last time flooding closed the road. "The sheer force of the water, I'm surprised it won't cause damage," she said. Shire of Augusta Margaret River president Julia Meldrum said the road was reopened about 10am Monday with reduced speeds. "We had the crew down there this morning, and the water has cleared at the bridge area, but they do need to remove the debris," she said. Councillor Meldrum said there was no major damage to the infrastructure. Margaret River police sergeant Alan Dean said officers had to stop a number of people from putting themselves in danger. "The problem with that obviously is the rocks and the timber and all sorts floating down the river … there are risks there of people being injured or possibly being swept out to sea." Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jessica Lingard said the heavy rainfall over the past 48 hours had also led to flooding on parts of Caves Road and the Bussell Highway. She urged people to be careful when driving through wet areas. "Remembering it's not just about the water in your car, it's about the road condition underneath those flooded areas, so please drive with caution and obey those road closure signs. "The good news is after three consecutive really wet cold fronts this week … we do now have a little bit of breathing room before our next front is due through later on Friday." According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Wilyabrup, 27km north of Margaret River, received 134mm of rain since Friday morning, while Busselton nearly 60mm and Margaret River 25mm. A DFES spokesperson told the ABC there were 71 call-outs statewide over the weekend, 20 of which were in the South West and Great Southern regions. Busselton SES manager Wayne Credaro said the accumulation of weather events in a short period of time had taken a toll on volunteer emergency services. "Everything has been pretty waterlogged … the rivers are running the highest I've seen for some time," he said. In Perth, a hailstorm pelted much of the central and northern metro area on Sunday afternoon. Almost 50mm of rain fell in Kings Park in the CBD over the past 24 hours.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
90-second change on 550 Aussie roads divides opinion: 'Absolute joke'
A new speed reduction trial is being rolled out on roads in one Aussie state and despite the initiative being a desperate attempt to curb growing road fatality rates, there has been a mixed reaction to the move, which will cost drivers 90 seconds on the road. Around 550 local roads in the popular Margaret River region of Western Australia will be affected by the three-year Safer Speeds program, with the first of the new speed limit signs sprouting up in Gracetown this week. While there is no blanket speed change across the roads, the majority are being reduced by 10 kilometres per hour. The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River has remained steadfast on its decision to introduce the changes despite the neighbouring City of Busselton council pulling out of what was due to be a joint program, with 1,800 roads in that council area now no longer due for a speed limit change. "The intent was to have the trial over the two shires, but City of Busselton decided not to. Their community response to participate in the trial was quite different than ours," Shire President Julia Meldrum told Yahoo News. "Over 50 per cent of our community were happy for us to proceed with the trial, which was a different result than the City of Busselton." "The reason we're involved in this trial is because speed is one contributor to road crashes and serious injury, so it's one way of saving lives." 🧐 Widespread belief about speed limits on Aussie roads busted 💥 Aussie drivers explode over city's speed limit plan 🗣️ Renewed calls for major road rule change There has been a 10.4 per cent increase in the number of roadside fatalities in Western Australia in the last 12 months, according to the National Road Safety Strategy, and speed continues to be the leading cause of serious collisions. However, some drivers are pushing against the speed reduction trial, claiming it will increase travel time and is only going to "frustrate people" — with many sharing their opinions on social media, calling the trial an "absolute joke". "Absolutely needless and just more infuriating and impatience will build for road users," one driver said online, with many championing the City of Busselton's decision to pull out. In response, Meldrum told Yahoo News the average travel time will only increase by 90 seconds and she strongly believes the road safety implications of reduced speed limits will vastly outweigh the slight increase of time on the road. "I'm encouraging community members to be patient on the roads and be sensible on the roads. And, you know, is 90 seconds really a long time? Not really. It's insignificant when you consider there could be lives saved and serious injury prevented." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
West Australian
15-05-2025
- West Australian
Shire of Augusta-Margaret River offers warning to unregistered works after builder prosecuted
The local government has put builders and homeowners on notice after a successful prosecution in court last month. A $53,000 penalty was handed down to an unidentified builder on April 16 for breaches of the Building Act. Shire of Augusta-Margaret River president Julia Meldrum said the builder was successfully prosecuted for undertaking unauthorised building works without the necessary permits. The incident, which followed a similar prosecution in 2022, was a timely reminder for builders to adhere to requirements, she said. 'I'd like to stress the importance of obtaining the necessary permits before commencing any building works,' Cr Meldrum said. 'Our team is committed to enforcing building regulations and protecting the community from the risks associated with unauthorised construction.' The shire president said the region's growth rate had let to skyrocketing building applications and permits. She said the Sshire was dedicated to ensuring building rules were followed to keep residents safe and to protect the environment.
