An organisation which has been highly critical of Western Australia's land clearing regulations says the way the issue is approached needs to significantly change.

Local governments, facing uncertainty over funding for regional projects in Western Australia's south, say they are relieved the Federal Government has committed to providing the funding.

For generations they have been the champions of rural communities, providing tried and true recipes from the nations favourite cooks. Country Womens Associations across the state have been doing it tough lately.

The Department of Consumer Protection is distributing 'Do Not Knock' stickers to all corners of Western Australia, after a landmark Federal Court ruling.

The City of Albany has chosen to hold an extraordinary election in February, to fill the vacancy created after the sudden resignation of the former deputy mayor.

Western Australian gold explorer Ausgold is launching a capital raising effort, which it says will facilitate further expansion of its Katanning project.

The Albany Port Authority believes slow trade so far this financial year will be short-lived.

A group of photographers in Albany are taking the town by storm.

Consumer Protection is urging people to look beyond the price tag when shopping online this Christmas.

A former West Australian Football League player, charged with assaulting another player during a country match, has had the charge against him dropped in a Narrogin court.

Officials involved in the construction of Katanning's new sheep saleyards say the first sale at the facility will have to be pushed back to next autumn due to project delays.

Real estate agents say Albany's rental market has tightened significantly in recent times.

The AFL has announced it will hold a number of community camps in regional Western Australia next year.

The new Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development says he expects improving conditions for elderly residents in Western Australia's south-west and Great Southern will be a key focus.

Western Australia's peak farm lobby group says having the Minister of Agriculture and Food take up a second portfolio may mean agricultural issues actually get more attention.

Western Australia's bulk grain handler says it has already received about 12.5 million tonnes of grain during this year's harvest and there is still more to come from southern areas.

Did you know that the native Christmas Tree that is in prolific flower in Western Australia this month can produce a mildly alcoholic Christmas potion?

The PGA says food security should not be the focus in the planned national review of agriculture with the country exporting surpluses every year.

The Education Minister says the completion of a major upgrade should ensure Denmark High School can continue its strong performance while dealing with a growing school population.

Police are investigating the second robbery from an Albany volunteer bushfire brigade within weeks.

The receivers of the collapsed Rare Coin Company say the return of stock, owned by customers caught up in the company's demise, will not begin until next year.

A new strategy to reduce fatal shark attacks is being implemented with baited drum lines to be set along popular beaches in Perth and the South West. Sharks will also be caught and killed if they enter zones near those beaches because they will be considered an imminent threat. The measures follow six fatal attacks by sharks in WA in two years. Opponents say sharks deserve respect and protection.

The farm gate art trail is currently bringing something a little different to paddocks across the Shire of Ravensthorpe.

Western Australian quarantine officers have intercepted a number of pests in products imported from other states and say, if released, they could have had damaging effects on local industries.

An investor, who has been left waiting months for the return of rare bank notes he owned through a collapsed Albany dealer, says further delays to that process are distressing.

The Police Commissioner has paid tribute to a senior Walpole policeman as an "outstanding officer" after he won WA's Police Officer of the Year Award.

Albany local John Chandler sees the world from a very different vantage point, with a device that is the source of a lot of controversy.

I'm inspired by our local farmers, community spirit, agricultural knowledge and leadership.

The president of Albany's biggest surfing club says the funds spent on the Western Australian Government's new shark strategy would be better used researching shark repellents.

Financial penalties have been imposed on Western Power for failing to meet its target for service performance to customers in regional areas.

A campaign is being launched to improve public awareness of the dangers of rock fishing in an effort to substantially reduce the number of fatalities across Western Australia.

The Department of Fisheries has released the results of a survey of WA's recreational fishing take, which has found the blue swimmer crab is the most commonly caught species.

The public will soon have an opportunity to comment on new guidelines being developed for companies who want to use fracking to access gas deposits in Western Australia.

The plan to set out bait for large sharks near popular WA beaches has been criticised over concerns it could attract them into swimming areas, but others back the move.

The state Opposition Leader Mark McGowan has labelled as "out of control" fee increases for TAFE courses from next year. The Government flagged the increases months ago but the new fees were only published yesterday. Mr McGowan says the cost of a Diploma of Nursing will rise 390 per cent next year. He says the increases will result in fewer people enrolling and lead to skills shortages.

This week on backyard farmer, we go in search of the best grub from the bush with the help of a local Noongar man.

The Royal Life Saving Society says WA's latest drowning figures, which reveal a 50 per cent increase on the previous year, should serve as a warning ahead of the festive season. A new report shows 31 people drowned in the state in 2012. Children under the age of four were the highest risk group for drowning and near drowning. Older people over the age of 55 were also at risk.

A storybook that celebrates and shares experiences from the Goldfields, Esperance and Great Southern regions was launched on Tuesday.

The charity food provider, Foodbank, says there has been a big increase in middle class people seeking help in regional WA this holiday period.

The latest survey of the cost of living in regional WA has shown a significant drop in living costs in the state's north. The State Government assesses the cost of 500 goods and services in 27 regional centres as part of the Regional Price Index every second year.

A hoax claiming the Church of Scientology was planning a nine-storey development at an iconic Albany site in WA's South Coast has infuriated local authorities.

Travel back through time with us and take a look at 2013 in the South Coast and Great Southern.