Stan Shaw

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Stan Shaw |Chela Williams

As part of its short-term accommodation policy the City of Busselton has endorsed a ban on new unhosted holiday homes. The policy outlines certain suburbs within the local government area as non-preferred for unhosted short-term accommodation. The council-endorsed policy will be implemented within a month. Unhosted holiday homes will no longer be permitted in certain parts of a popular tourist destination in the south-west of Western Australia.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Chela Williams |Jacqueline Lynch |Stan Shaw

The West Australian government is being called upon to increase support for country ambulance centres amid fears volunteers are burnt out after years of fundraising for vehicle and substation upgrades. Volunteers in the South West town of Pemberton are working to raise $300,000 to replace one of their ambulances. Over the years such fundraisers have become commonplace to help buy expensive equipment and for major work at substations.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Stan Shaw

In the 1970s, Louise Kirk became a mother at 16. But instead of relishing the joys of motherhood, her baby was adopted by another woman against her wishes. Ms Kirk is one of thousands of women whose babies were taken in Western Australia's forced adoption era, and 50 years later she is still coming to terms with the trauma. "No thought was given to my dignity, [I was] treated like a cow really," she said.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Stan Shaw |Andrew Williams |Chela Williams

Elaine Bartles and her husband Doug are marking a year since their home and belongings were destroyed in a "freak" tornado that tore through WA's second-biggest city. Despite the time since the incident, the retired couple remains "basically homeless", living in their caravan and waiting for their home to be rebuilt. The tornado struck Bunbury, 170 kilometres south of Perth, on May 10, damaging 220 homes and destroying another nine in just 10 minutes.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Andrew Williams |Stan Shaw

Residents of a small community in Western Australia's South West have been left outraged by a state government decision to green-light the disposal of toxic chemicals at their local rubbish tip. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has approved a licence amendment for the Cleanaway-owned rubbish facility at Crooked Brook on the outskirts of Dardanup, 180 kilometres south of Perth.