Goldfields, Esperance, Midwest and Wheatbelt WA local news briefing, November 6, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The WA Fishing Industry Council's interim CEO Manue Daniels was among those who gave evidence at this week's parliamentary inquiry.   (ABC News: Tara de Landgrafft)

Here's what's making news in the Goldfields, Esperance, Midwest and Wheatbelt regions of WA today.

The WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) says a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of the demersal fishing ban was a step towards consultation.

Commercial fishing for demersals between Kalbarri and Augusta was permanently banned in 2025 due to low levels of spawning species.

Environmental groups welcomed the move, while some coastal communities and impacted businesses opposed it.

WAFIC interim chief executive Manue Daniels gave evidence during three days of hearings in Perth.

"It's fulfilling in a way that I feel that this is a step in consultation," she said.

The WA Nationals said they were looking forward to hearing any recommendations from the inquiry.

Opposition fisheries spokeswoman Kirralee Warr said the committee had a year to report back to parliament.

"I look forward to that day when that report actually drops, and the further recommendations that potentially could come from this really important inquiry into the fisheries management here in Western Australia," she said.  

A 31-year-old British backpacker has been sentenced in Kalgoorlie over the killing of a dog.

Warning: This story contains confronting details.

Bradley Gavin Knoesen was sentenced in the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Thursday for the protracted killing of his friend's one-year-old kelpie in September.

The court heard Knoesen drowned the dog, revived it, then clubbed it to death before leaving the animal in bushland.

Magistrate Donna Webb said the case had caused public outrage and was beyond comprehension.

But she said she was bound in sentencing by Supreme Court precedent, which had never upheld imprisonment for animal cruelty.

Knoesen was sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence.

A rare geological specimen from an underground mine in WA's Goldfields is set to be sold at auction at this weekend's Perth Gem and Mineral Show.

The 1.6-kilogram rock is covered in visible gold and contains an estimated two ounces of the precious metal.

Ramelius Resources exploration manager Volker Gartz said the specimen was found at the company's Wattle Dam mine near Kambalda more than a decade ago.  

"What makes it unique is the rock, it's an ultramafic rock and the gold occurs as very course, nuggety gold," the geologist said. 

"There's quite a bit of visible gold in this specimen, it runs in a bit of a seam around it and based on my estimate, I'd say about two ounces of gold. 

"It's a classic example of the Wattle Dam ore as it was mined between 2006 and 2012. To get something like this with course, visible gold in is pretty unique in my mind."

More international cargo will be shipped through Geraldton Port under an expansion of customs and biosecurity services backed by the federal government.

The government said the extra capacity would allow the port to handle more renewable energy and critical minerals-related material, while reducing Geraldton's dependence on long-haul freight from Fremantle.

Border Force and the Department of Agriculture would work with the port to determine the capacity and upgrades required.

An aerial view of the Geraldton Port.   (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)

A Wheatbelt community could host WA's largest wind farm, with the local council considering an application from developers.

If approved, the Dinner Hill project would see 131 wind turbines built on a site 25 kilometres north of Dandaragan.

With a separate 78-turbine project already under construction, shire president Tony O'Gorman said they were playing a key role in the state's energy future.

"It's a big transition and I suppose instead of Collie being the centre of coal-fired, Dandaragan is now the centre of renewable energy," he said.

Collgar wind farm in Western Australia's Wheatbelt in 2012. (Supplied)

The long-serving former CEO of the Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre, Gloria Moyle, has been honoured with life membership of the not-for-profit group.

Ms Moyle served 14 years as chief executive before relocating to Perth last year.

She said her first involvement with the centre was as a teenager when her mother died, and she relied on its services again following the death of her husband.

"I am so honoured and grateful," she said.  

The not-for-profit was established in 1986 and provides a diverse range of services, including counselling and women's health clinics.

Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre CEO Gloria Moyle says homelessness support services in the region are at capacity. (ABC Goldfields-Esperance Rosemary Murphy )

A gold miner has pegged vast parcels of prospective land across the historic Menzies field in WA's northern Goldfields, increasing its tenement holdings by 69 per cent.

Sydney-based Resources and Energy Group now controls 182-square-kilometres surrounding Menzies, where the first gold claim was registered in 1894. 

The latest push pegged an additional 79-square-kilometres, encompassing 10 prospecting licence applications and one new exploration licence application.

The company says it plans to accelerate exploration work next year, alongside trials of a vat leaching gold operation at Menzies.

The Menzies Town Hall and council administration building in WA's northern Goldfields. (Jarrod Lucas: ABC Goldfields-Esperance)