Counterfeit notes: Police are warning businesses to remain vigilant when accepting cash payments as they investigate several instances of illegitimate bank notes being used across the Great Southern. Officers say counterfeit $50 notes have been presented to two different fast food outlets in Albany last week, and another one was used at a licensed premises in Mount Barker in January. Police are asking anyone with information to contact crime stoppers.
Image supplied: Katanning Police
Housing lots released: The state government has released 20 residential lots in Oyster Harbour, in a bid to increase land supply in the tight Albany market. The medium house price in Albany has risen more than 80 per cent in the past five years and the rental vacancy rate is zer0.3 per cent. A total of 46 residential lots will be released in Oyster Harbour including seven reserved for social housing, with construction to begin later this year.
Increased mobile coverage: A new mobile base station has been constructed in the Torndirrup National Park in the Great Southern, seven years after it was first proposed. Plans for increased coverage for the area, which includes Albany's Salmon Holes, were first made in 2019 following a coronial inquest into the deaths of two fishermen a year earlier. Telstra says the project was a long time in the making due to permits required, difficulty accessing the national park, and the provision of power at the Cave Point lighthouse where the mobile tower facility has been constructed.
Answer to critical water levels: The Shire of Denmark has adopted a new water policy for Peaceful Bay, with the dam which supplies non-portable water at critical levels. The policy outlines set watering days and times for leaseholders and a penalty of up to $250 for non-compliance. Chief executive David King says the dam level has become increasingly low over recent summers.
Desalination petition: A petition opposing a desalination plant at Nanarup Beach near Albany has attracted more than 800 signatures. Water Corporation announced the selection of the site in January, after WA Premier Roger Cook ruled out King George Sound as a potential location. This is a second petition opposing a desalination plant at Nanarup, the first one garnered about 2,000 signatures. The second petition is expected to be tabled to WA parliament in April.
Strawberry Hill to reopen: The National Trust says there will be a phased reopening of Strawberry Hill at Barmup which was closed last year for major conservation works. The heritage-listed site in Albany is of cultural significance to the Menang people and was also the location of the first colonial farm in the state. Chief executive Alan Barett says the first stage of reopening will be the launch of a cultural mapping project in May this year.
Trapped under tractor: Emergency services have freed a man who was trapped underneath a tractor on a property on WA's south coast. The incident happened at Scotsdale about 1.30pm on March 2. The man is in his 70s and was taken to Denmark Health Service for treatment.
Mental health transport: The WA Country Health Service says it's providing a new specialised team to help with the transfer of mental health patients between country and metropolitan hospitals. The transfers were previously undertaken by WA police. The Director of Work Health Safety and Security, Ben Newman, says the team has specialised sk
