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Urgent warnings issued after mosquito-borne virus case in Karratha.

Regional WAPremiumMurray Valley encephalitis case confirmed in Karratha

A case of Murray Valley encephalitis has been confirmed in Karratha, prompting renewed health warnings about mosquito-borne diseases in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

Katya Minns

Premier Roger Cook announced that a re-elected Labor Government would raise the stamp duty exemption threshold for first-homebuyer purchases.

STAMP DUTY PremiumLabor’s stamp duty boost could ‘open up’ more properties

In a move aimed at easing the home-buying journey, WA Labor is upping the stamp duty exemption for first-homebuyers from $450,000 to $500,000.

Madelin Hayes

West Coast Fever netballers Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney arrived in Port Hedland on February 19.

NetballPremiumWest Coast Fever stars inspire Port Hedland athletes

Young athletes in Port Hedland had the opportunity to engage and train with some of Western Australia’s top netballers this week as West Coast Fever players visited the East Pilbara town.

Katya Minns

Woolworths Quiet Hour at the Woolworths Ashfiled North Store. 18th February 2025. Photograph Dallas Kilponen/Woolworths

Quiet hourPremiumPilbara Woolworths stores expand low-sensory quiet hour

Woolworths have extended their ‘quiet hour’, an experience designed to reduce anxiety and sensory stress for customers with specific needs, to five days per week, with the Pilbara to benefit. 

Madelin Hayes

The Karratha Touch men's 30s was undefeated in the 2025 TFWA State Championships.

Winners are grinnersPremiumKarratha Touch Men’s 30 undefeated State champions

The Karratha Touch Association has returned home as State champions after a four-point win against Tompkins Park Sharks in the 2025 Touch Football WA State Championships grand final. 

Madelin Hayes

No Lights No Lycra is seeking a spot for Karratha locals to dance in the dark.

DANCING IN THE DARKPremiumNo Lights No Lycra seeks venue in Karratha

A Karratha ambassador is calling out to secure a venue for locals to get their boogie on in the dark and dance like nobody’s watching. 

Madelin Hayes

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to fundraise for Carlindie Station.

Regional WAPremiumGoFundMe launched for Pilbara station hit by cyclone Zelia

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support a Pilbara family left devastated after tropical cyclone Zelia tore through Carlindie Station last week.

Katya Minns

Cyclone Zelia uprooted trees in Port Hedland, damaged roads and buildings, but spared infrastructure.

Cyclone ZeliaPremiumPort Hedland avoids major damage as clean-up under way

Residents of Port Hedland are breathing a sigh of relief after tropical cyclone Zelia passed through the town without causing major damage, with most public facilities set to reopen on Monday, February 17.

Katya Minns and Lisa Thomas

Pharmacy Help Karratha is in the running for a major industry award.

Health PremiumKarratha Pharmacy recognised for outstanding health care

Pharmacy Help Karratha has been named a finalist in the Guild Pharmacy of the Year Awards, recognising its exceptional contributions to health care in one of Australia’s most remote regions.

Cain Andrews

Students are learning the basics of coding in a creative and fun environment.

CODING FUNPremiumExmouth students ‘byte’ into coding fun at creative workshop

Exmouth Library recently welcomed nine students for the first Creative Bytes coding workshop where they swapped their usual after-school routine for some hands-on digital creativity.

Madelin Hayes

Residents collect sandbags from the Karratha SES.

CYCLONE ZELIA PremiumRelief in Karratha as cyclone Zelia spares city

Karratha residents breathed a sigh of relief as unpredictable cyclone Zelia spared the city, with the category four system making landfall about 12.30pm on Friday about 55km north-east of Port Hedland. 

Madelin Hayes

Callum Ah Chee, Jade Gresham and Lawson Humphries of the Indigenous All Stars.

AFL PremiumAboriginal All Stars coaches praises Lawson Humphries

Former Wickham Wolf and Geelong rising defender Lawson Humphries earned high praise from the Aboriginal All Stars coaching staff after a standout performance in their 43-point victory over Fremantle.

Cain Andrews

The WAFL’s long-standing metropolitan and country recruiting zones are set for a major shake-up this year, but clubs are wary, including Swan Districts president Peter Hodyl, whose club recruits from the Pilbara.

Football PremiumFootball WA plans major redraw of WAFL recruiting zones

The WAFL’s metropolitan and country recruiting zones are set for a major shake-up this year but clubs are wary, including Swan Districts, who recruit from the Pilbara. 

Glen Quartermain & Cain Andrews

Flood alerts have been issued for people in the De Grey catchment, including Marble Bar and Nullagine and also for people in Warralong. 

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Severe WeatherVideoComments
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Flooding to isolate communities as Zelia causes intense rain

Zelia weakened overnight to below cyclone intensity and is dissipating as the system moves further inland from the Pilbara coast.

Taylor Renouf and Adrian Lowe

Exmouth shire president Matt Niikkula and Liberal candidate for Pilbara Amanda Kailis.

Election PremiumLiberals commit $5m to Nimitz Street Development in Exmouth

The WA Liberals have committed $5 million to kickstart the Nimitz Street Development in Exmouth in an effort to tackle the local housing crisis if elected in March.

Cain Andrews

Hampton Harbour Boating and Sailing Club manager Mia Trapolino-Mallet, HHSBC vice-commodore James Bartlett, WA Liberals Pilbara candidate Amanda Kailis and City of Karratha mayor Dan Scott.

Long-awaited PremiumLiberals commit to restart Dampier Marina project if elected

The WA Liberals have committed $1.5m in funding to get the new marina project in Dampier off the ground if elected in March. 

Cain Andrews

Port Hedland resident Krystal Findlay has taken home the outstanding trade award from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA in Perth on February 13 for her innovation and dedication in port operations.

Innovation recognised PremiumPort Hedland local takes out CME’s outstanding trades award

Port Hedland resident Krystal Findlay has taken home the outstanding trade award from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA in Perth on February 13 for her innovation and dedication in port operations. 

Cain Andrews

The big banks have agreed to a two-and-a-half-year moratorium on regional branch closures.

PoliticsPremiumBank moratorium ‘too late’ for rural towns left behind

The Federal Government has imposed a moratorium on regional bank closures until July 2027 after a wave of shutdowns which left Tom Price residents without a local branch.

Stephanie Gardiner and Andrew Brown

The large tropical cyclone has been classed as a category two system.

Severe WeatherCommentsTen WA schools closed as destructive cyclone hits area

Parents and carers are asked to keep their children home.

Taylor Renouf

Year 12 student Ella Dale is on a mission to transform Karratha’s landscape — one tree at a time.

BRANCHING OUTPremiumElla’s quest to leaf Karratha lush

A Year 12 student from Karratha is on a mission to beautify the town and transform the landscape by offering free native trees to the community.

Madelin Hayes

Cr Adrian McRae appeared on Sputnik News on October 20.

Election PremiumPort Hedland councillor withdraws State election bid

Port Hedland Cr Adrian McRae has withdrawn his bid for an Upper House seat in the March State election, less than a week after Premier Roger Cook called him out for his “extremist views”.

Cain Andrews

The first round of Football West’s Futsal Competition commenced on February 9 as part of a seven week competition.

FUTSAL FEVER PremiumFutsal competition kicks off in Karratha

Football West’s Futsal Competition has kicked off in Karratha with an uptake of players looking to escape the Pilbara heat and improve their skills. 

Madelin Hayes

Yara Pilbara production manager Wade Kimpton, Samirah Fitzgerald, Ashley Eversden and Yara Pilbara recruitment coordinator Justine Chong.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE PremiumKarratha Senior High student awarded $20,000 scholarship

A Karratha Senior High School student will kick-start her first year of university with a $20,000 scholarship to be put towards her studies. 

Madelin Hayes

Tremane Baxter Edwards from Wyndham took part in the 2024 Youth Parliament.

Youth Parliament PremiumApplications open for 2025 Y WA Youth Parliament

Young political enthusiasts in WA’s North West can gain exclusive insights into Australian Parliament, with registrations open for the 2025 Youth Parliament program.

Natasha Clark