Latest news with #MargaretRiver
West Australian
7 days ago
- General
- West Australian
Narrogin DNA takes three teams to WA Netball Association Championships, under-16 girls make grand final
Narrogin and Districts Netball Association sent three teams to the Fuel to Go & Play Association Championships over the WA Day long weekend, with the under-16 team making it through to the grand final. More than 300 teams representing 48 associations travelled from across the State to compete, with 46 divisions representing 13 metropolitan associations, 35 regional and 17 invitational teams from Singapore. NDNA's under-16 team was undefeated until the final round, with an undefeated Margaret River taking the win ahead of the grand final. Denmark put up a good fight in the first round, but Narrogin pushed through to take the win on a slim four-point margin at 19-15. Big wins against Eaton and Joondalup followed, but the team had to fight hard again in round five as Busselton threatened to overturn their winning streak. However, Narrogin fought them off through the whole game, staying one step ahead and taking the win at 20-19. The team notched another win over Port Hedland in round six, before facing top side Margaret River in the final round, where they had their first loss of the competition. The two teams faced off again in the grand final game, with Narrogin fighting hard but coming off second best with a five-goal loss to end their campaign as runners-up. The under-14 team fought against a competitive field, and started the first round of the weekend with a close game against Joondalup where they trailed by only two goals at the final whistle. Despite best efforts, the Narrogin girls couldn't stand up to the might of the division's top sides over the next three rounds, going down to Margaret River, Swan Districts and Bridgetown. They found their feet again in round six against Denmark, but couldn't quite turn the scoreboard their way and Denmark took the win at 22-19. Narrogin's weekend ended in round seven, with Swan Districts going on to defeat Rockingham and Districts in the grand final 21-7. The under-12 team played hard and kept their heads held high despite big early losses, playing through to round seven to proudly represent their association.
West Australian
7 days ago
- General
- West Australian
Narrogin takes three teams to WA Netball Association Championships, under-16 girls make grand final
Narrogin and Districts Netball Association sent three teams to the Fuel to Go & Play Association Championships over the WA Day long weekend, with the under-16 team making it through to the grand final. More than 300 teams representing 48 associations travelled from across the State to compete, with 46 divisions representing 13 metropolitan associations, 35 regional and 17 invitational teams from Singapore. NDNA's under-16 team was undefeated until the final round, with an undefeated Margaret River taking the win ahead of the grand final. Denmark put up a good fight in the first round, but Narrogin pushed through to take the win on a slim four-point margin at 19-15. Big wins against Eaton and Joondalup followed, but the team had to fight hard again in round five as Busselton threatened to overturn their winning streak. However, Narrogin fought them off through the whole game, staying one step ahead and taking the win at 20-19. The team notched another win over Port Hedland in round six, before facing top side Margaret River in the final round, where they had their first loss of the competition. The two teams faced off again in the grand final game, with Narrogin fighting hard but coming off second best with a five-goal loss to end their campaign as runners-up. The under-14 team fought against a competitive field, and started the first round of the weekend with a close game against Joondalup where they trailed by only two goals at the final whistle. Despite best efforts, the Narrogin girls couldn't stand up to the might of the division's top sides over the next three rounds, going down to Margaret River, Swan Districts and Bridgetown. They found their feet again in round six against Denmark, but couldn't quite turn the scoreboard their way and Denmark took the win at 22-19. Narrogin's weekend ended in round seven, with Swan Districts going on to defeat Rockingham and Districts in the grand final 21-7. The under-12 team played hard and kept their heads held high despite big early losses, playing through to round seven to proudly represent their association.
ABC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Controversial Margaret River resort plans green-lit by EPA
A $138 million luxury resort has been given the green light by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in Western Australia's South West. The five-star resort will be built by developer Saracen Properties on Wallcliffe Road at Gnarabup Beach, 8 kilometres south of Margaret River. It will feature a 121 rooms, 51 beach houses, 25 apartments and a general store and cafe. The controversial project has drawn significant criticism over the years, including from high-profile surfer Taj Burrow and musician John Butler. There are concerns about the resort's ecological impact, reduced visual amenity, and inadequate Aboriginal consultation and consideration of culture and heritage. The resort's sole access road has also been flagged as a bushfire risk. The beachfront site has been earmarked for a resort development as early as 2006. The EPA took three years to assess the development application, submitted through the State Development Assessment Unit. More than 2,500 submissions were made as part of the public review period. In a statement, EPA chair Darren Walsh admitted the project would change the natural landscape and visual character of the area. However, strict conditions have been put in place, including a maximum height limit of 7 metres for the resort area and 8m for the village area. Other recommendations include no disturbance to Aboriginal cultural heritage in the development envelope and minimising impacts on the habitat of migratory shorebirds. Margaret River Coastal Residents Association president and Gnarabup resident Adrian Wilson said there were quite a few "inconsistencies" in the EPA's report. "One of the main problems is they don't consider stuff like traffic, infrastructure, social impact, fire," he told Peter Barr on WA Regional Mornings. "They've also said the sewerage system is inadequate and this development depends on an upgrade. So they've sort of washed their hands of it. "The EPA is relying on the developer doing a bunch of stuff and our experience is, the developer is not interested in anything they can't directly relate to this development. Lee Burkett has operated the nearby Margarets Beach Resort at Gnarabup Beach for the past 18 years. He said while he understood the backlash from residents, the development would boost tourism in Margaret River. "Most weekends are full throughout the year and it's only going to get more popular," Mr Burkett said. "We live in the best place in the world and if people want that and are prepared to pay for that type of accommodation, they deserve it. "Every one is entitled to their opinion to this development and if that's what they [the government departments] have come up with, then so be it." In a statement, a Saracen Properties spokesperson said the developer was pleased to have received EPA support. The spokesperson said the project was carefully designed from the outset, with strong consideration for the area's environmental and heritage values. A three-week public appeal period is now open and will close on June 18. Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn will then be tasked with the final decision on the proposal.
Reuters
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Hawaii's Bryan goes back-to-back in Western Australia waves
May 27 (Reuters) - Hawaii's Gabriela Bryan defended her Western Australia Margaret River Pro title on Tuesday, showcasing her powerful forehand surfing to beat reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers and maintain her rankings lead over her Californian rival. South African Jordy Smith won the men's event, stop seven on the world tour, by taking out California's Griffin Colapinto. The 37-year-old now leads the world championship rankings 18 years after making his tour debut. While conditions had slowed on Tuesday after big, perfect surf earlier in the competition period, Simmers and Bryan started their final swiftly. Simmers, 19, notched up a solid 7.17 out of 10 only to see Bryan use her trademark power on a series of searing turns for a near perfect 9.5. Both surfers followed up their initial keeper scores with some mid-range numbers before Bryan notched up another solid wave for a 7.83 and 17.33 total inside the first 10 minutes of the final. "I just went out there and was like, I've just got to surf my heart out, and that's what I did on that (9.5) wave. And then I was lucky enough to get a backup before it went flat, so yeah, I'm so stoked," Bryan, 23, said. Smith, who joined the world tour in 2008 and is the oldest competitor on tour, also got off to a strong start, picking up an excellent 8.5 on his first wave after Colapinto garnered a modest 4.83. With the ocean going quiet and needing a solid score, Colapinto waited in vain for another opportunity that never came, handing Smith his second win this year. "I think it's just a testament to every day, keep showing up, trusting what you're doing," Smith said. "This year has really been about having fun and enjoying this, because it's not forever." Colapinto finished third in the world in 2023 and 2024 but had a shocking start to this year, languishing near the bottom of the rankings before the start of the three-leg Australian tour. The 26-year-old from San Clemente had two of the most memorable waves of the event - a near-impossible tube in an early round and the only perfect 10-point ride in a blockbuster quarter-final against Italy's Leo Fioravanti. Trailing and needing a 9.4, Colapinto sped along an overhead wave and launched into a huge, full rotation aerial, greasing the landing as the shallow reef loomed. The tour next heads to Colapinto's home break, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics surfing venue of Lower Trestles. The top five men and women after the 11-stop tour will then compete for the world title in a one-day, winner-takes-all Finals Day in Fiji.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
South African veteran Jordy Smith and new world No.1 Gabriela Bryan take Margaret River Pro titles as Aussie Isabella Nicholls wins new car
The final two events on the WTC Australian swing failed to deliver a local winner after South African veteran Jordy Smith and new world No.1 Gabriela Bryan took out the men's and women's events at Margaret River. But Bells Beach champ Isabella Nichols flew the Aussie flag after taking out the Aussie Treble, which was awarded to the best surfer over the three Australian events, including Bells and the Gold Coast Pro. Bryan proved a destroyer of local hopes on her way to her second title of the year, ending Sally Fitzgibbons' season on Monday before the 23-year-old Hawaiian defended the title she won last year by taking down reigning world champ Caitlin Simmers in a dominant final display. 'I'm honestly speechless, I don't know what to think,' Bryan said after her win. 'I've just been surfing how I want to surf and I just can't believe it.' Smith, in his 18th season on tour, then scorched enigmatic American star Griffin Colapinto to secure only his eighth tour win, but his second in 2025, after ending an eight-year drought in El Salvador. He'll take the No.1 ranking to the next event in California next month. There were no Aussies in either final in Western Australia, the first time in the three Australian events. Nichols and Jack Robinson won at Bells, while Fitzgibbons and comeback star Julian Wilson lost finals on the Gold Coast. The effort of Nichols to secure one title, while making quarter-finals on the Gold Coast and again at Margaret River, helped secure her fourth spot on the world rankings and the Aussie Treble, which came with a new car. Nichols, Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright were the only Australian women to make the mid-season cut and will contest the rest of the season in their bid for the world title. Ethan Ewing, Robinson and Joel Vaughan made the men's cut, with four more events before the finals in Fiji in August.
