As it happened: WA news on Tuesday, October 1

We’re bringing our blog to a close for the day, thanks for tuning in.

As we leave you, it has emerged that Perth builder Nicheliving has launched a rebranded property entity as it fights to retain its building license, fend off angry clients, and stem a media frenzy.

Meanwhile, a storm warning is current for the south-west coast as a cold front barrels towards the state. It’s due to hit tomorrow, so take care.

And opponents – and supporters – of a controversial 250-bed “pod hotel” in the heart of Fremantle will have to wait a little longer to know whether the project has been given the green light after the panel deliberating its approval deferred its decision today.

Thank you again for following our live blog today, join us tomorrow as we bring you all the news of the day – including the fallout from that storm front forecast to hit WA.

Perth builder Nicheliving has launched a rebranded property entity as it fights to retain its building license, fend off angry clients, and stem a media frenzy after its director’s physical alteration with a reporter.

A website for APA Perth surfaced 24 hours ago, spruiking property management services and several house and land developments. According to the website, the company boasts an all-female team of property managers.

But documents obtained through the Australian Securities and Investments Commission show Nicheliving directors Paul Bitdorf and Ronnie Michel-Elhaj are listed as co-directors of the entity’s holding company Australian Property Alliance.

The Australian Property Alliance has gone by several names since its inception over a decade ago, with the most recent rebrand registered with the corporate watchdog on September 10.

In response to questions from this masthead, Michel-Elhaj said Australian Property Alliance was the original business entity name and APA is its real estate entity.

“The business group has many entities. We are separating our business departments and now our real estate and property management business which operate under the APA real estate license are operating under this entity,” he said.

“APA intends on targeting international markets and Asia in particular.”

“Our existing real estate clients will now liaise with our APA real estate team for property sales, management and investment.

“Moving forward we are focusing on development projects and real estate.”

It follows months of intense scrutiny for Nicheliving over a growing list of unfinished developments, with at least 225 home building contracts awaiting approval — some of which were signed four years ago.

The State Administrative Tribunal stepped in to stop Nicheliving from being deregistered in August by the building watchdog over the company’s growing debt, a move which prevents it from commencing any new home builds.

The move also comes just 24 hours after Michel-Elhaj made headlines over a tussle with 7News reporter Geof Parry, who had approached the Nicheliving boss outside an Applecross mansion under construction in his wife’s name.

Nicheliving has also been slapped with nine improvement notices by WorkSafe.

A Perth panel has after a two-hour meeting deferred a decision on a four-storey $8 million 250-bed backpackers’ “pod hotel” on Essex Street Fremantle that would be the first of its kind in WA.

LyLo Fremantle is to be the WA version of locations already in New Zealand and Queensland.

The proposal as it stood was for 80 rooms with 247 beds, a small bar and communal dining, kitchen, laundry and bathroom areas with a 24-hour reception.

The proposed Lylo Fremantle. Credit: DAP application documents

The City of Fremantle had recommended the development assessment panel refuse it due to its bulk and scale and loss of sun, light and privacy for the surrounding residents, many of them in heritage properties.

A large number of community presentations were made from residents directly abutting the development, worried about heritage issues, noise, waste management and backpackers staring into their gardens and milling about on the streets.

“It’s a nightmare,” said one resident, who also called it “monstrous”.

Another said the plan would impact 38 residences and five businesses and when the bar was full there could be hundreds of patrons across the site. Without the ability to socialise and rest in their tiny rooms, it would be “schoolies on tap”.

Another said they were “profoundly disappointed by the sheer disregard shown” for neighbours.

They also said guests being in rooms of only two metres by one, without private space to relax, would spill to the streets and create noise and crowding issues.

But the proponents said LyLo was part of an experienced and established company that had put together a team with experience in WA and Fremantle.

They said they had carefully considered and addressed the issues raised by the community in consultation with the City of Fremantle, and the plan was compliant with planning and heritage requirements. They said screening would ensure hotel guests would not overlook private backyards.

The panel agreed the development was a desirable one for Fremantle but had undeniable issues, so resolved to delay their decision to allow these to be resolved.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has put out an alert as a storm forecast to bring damaging winds and surf to Perth and the lower parts of the state head towards the city.

They warn residents to “act now and stay safe”.

Locations which may be affected by the weather on Wednesday include Kalbarri, Geraldton, Jurien Bay, Lancelin, Yanchep, Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury, Margaret River, Augusta and Walpole.

A cold front approaching from the south-west has prompted a major storm warning for Perth ahead of its forecast arrival on Wednesday.Credit: Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology advised the strong cold front would move across southwest WA during Wednesday and Thursday, causing strong to gale force winds and large seas. Rottnest ferries have been cancelled already.

Damaging surf conditions could cause significant beach erosion between Kalbarri and Bunbury, including near Perth, and on the coastline between Cape Naturaliste and Walpole from late Wednesday afternoon.

These conditions are expected to persist during Thursday, easing in the evening.

WA Police are seeking the public’s assistance to find the person who set fire to a Coles supermarket in High Wycombe on Saturday, causing an estimated $100,000 damage.

The arson squad is investigating after a person entered the store around 4pm and set alight toilet paper on a shelf.

The damaged Coles in Kalamunda.Credit: WA Police

The fire quickly spread to other shelves, emitting thick smoke, which activated the fire sprinkler system which flooded the store.

Staff and customers were safely evacuated, however, the smoke-damaged stock, coupled with the fire and water damage, has left the store with a $100,000 damage bill.

Anyone who was in the store at the time is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A reward of up to $25,000 is offered for information that leads to the identification and conviction of an arsonist.

The wine list at a newly opened beachside venue in Cottesloe has been crowned the state’s best at the Wine List of The Year Awards.

Gibney, George Kailis’ daring brasserie perched on Marine Terrace overlooking South Cottesloe beach, also won Australia’s Best New Wine List.

The nod is likely thanks to James Gentile, formerly of Heritage Wine Bar and Bobeche, who is Gibney’s bar manager.

Mojo’s Kitchen in Bunbury took out the national award for Best Beer List and Shorehouse, just up the road from Gibney, won Australia’s Best Listing of West Australian Wines.

The WA government has selected a former environmental consultant and councillor of one of the nation’s biggest property lobby groups to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

On Tuesday Environment Minister Reece Whitby announced Darren Walsh would become chair of the agency following the resignation of former chair Matthew Tonts.

Tonts resigned three years into his five-year term in March to take on a role at Curtin University.

Walsh was appeals convener to the minister for environment from 2003 to 2006 before he spent five years in high-profile roles at Satterley Property Group from 2006 to 2011.

He holds a Masters in Environmental Science and was a senior environmental consultant at Strategen and Strategen JBS&G from 2011 to 2023.

Walsh has also served on both the state and national councils of the Urban Development Institute of Australia and joined the EPA board last year.

Environment Minister Reece Whitby said Walsh had already made a significant contribution to the board in his short time there.

Former Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety executive director of resource and environmental compliance Karen Caple has also been appointed to the EPA’s board.

Turning to politics now, and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has jumped to the defence of the Metronet office, insisting taxpayers would not be out of pocket for a mothballed plan to build a pageant float celebrating Labor’s $12 billion rail project.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Saffioti insisted she could not foresee any funds being expended on the float which was the subject of a now-scrapped $186,000 contract for the annual Perth Christmas pageant.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew to Perth last week to join Premier Roger Cook and Minister Saffioti to announce the completion of a Metronet milestone. Swan MP Zaneta Mascarenhas and Cannington candidate Ron Sao also joined in. Credit: Tony McDonough

Metronet had repeatedly refused to answer questions about the nature of “ongoing discussions” with the contractor or whether the public would be on the hook for the backflip.

Saffioti maintained she was “very proud” of the flagship rail project WA Labor took to the 2017 election and vowed to continue looking for ways to “engage the community” on the subject.

She also rejected criticism from opposition leader Shane Love accusing the government of blurring the line between legitimate public information and political advertising in an event just 12 weeks before the 2025 election.

“The opposition doesn’t support Metronet. They don’t support capped public transport fares or free public transport on Sundays; the opposition has basically criticised every element of Metronet,” she said.

“They’ll keep criticising but we’re very proud of the delivery of Metronet and also the cost of living support that comes through… they’re the type of initiatives that help everyday families.

“They spent money on promoting MAX [Metro Area Express] light rail, and they never actually started it, they wrapped a bus to promote their new bus transit, to Ellenbrook, and they hadn’t even started it, so the opposition’s got no grounds on this.”

The contract, proposed to celebrate “the positive impact” of the Metronet juggernaut, was cancelled after scoping activities with the contractor.

Read more here.

Perth’s latest radio ratings survey is out and 96FM rules, capturing 14.8 per cent of the total weekday market by session, though Nova 93.7 is nipping at its heels with 14.3 per cent.

The biggest growth for weekdays overall was 92.9 Triple M with 1.6 per cent growth; the biggest drop Nova with -0.6 per cent, showed 2024’s sixth iteration of the closely watched survey.

For the all-important breakfast slot, 92.9 claimed the biggest growth of 1.4 per cent and news talkback station Radio 6PR the biggest loss of 1.2 per cent, though 6PR remains Perth’s biggest AM station in terms of audience share. Nova ruled breakfast far and away with 16.4 per cent of the total audience and runner-up 96FM well behind at 12.4 per cent.

In the mornings slot just after breakfast, 92.9 had major growth of 2.3 per cent, but not enough to threaten leader 96FM’s 16.5 per cent audience share. Nova suffered the highest losses in this slot with their share dropping 1.3 per cent.

96FM had the biggest growth in drive programs (4pm-7pm) but remains well behind Nova’s 18.3 per cent audience share. Mix 94.5 had the biggest loss in this timeslot of 1 per cent.

Perth’s latest radio ratings survey.

Good news, everyone! Searchers have located Nancy Brough (see our 8.26am post) in bushland on Blackadder Road in Swan View.

Nancy is talking to searchers and she will be conveyed to hospital for a check-up.