Stateline Western Australia

14/11/2008

Calls For Change To Strata Laws

With Perth's population tipped to double by 2050, higher density living looks set to be the way of the future.

The need to cram more housing into less space has led to a proliferation of strata developments, many with a mix of homes, offices and shops under the one roof.

But how well prepared is WA for what the planners call infill development? Claire Moodie reports on calls for tougher regulations to deal with the fast-growing strata industry.

Freo Fights Lead Shipments

This week, Colin Barnett visited Esperance for the first time as Premier to meet some of the families most affected by lead contamination.

He called it one of the state's worst environmental disasters confronting a single community since Wittenoom. But there was no big announcement on compensation. And while the new Government has promised to improve the clean-up, it's been criticised for not acting quickly enough.

The Esperance case is being closely watched by community leaders in Fremantle who are preparing to launch a renewed campaign against lead shipments. Veronica Buck reports.

Battling the Baby Blues

For any mother the stress of having a newborn can take its toll. But for the one in seven who develop Post Natal Depression, simply getting through the day becomes a struggle. The illness doesn't discriminate and its impact on families, relationships and mother-child bonding can be profound.

But now a new study is trying to eliminate Post Natal Depression before it takes hold. It's not a new technology or methodology that is providing a solution, but an old fashioned approach that encourages a close relationship between mothers and midwives. Ynja Bjornssen reports.

The Glory Girls

When Australia's female soccer team, the Matildas, posed for a nude calendar not everyone approved. The calendar caused an uproar in the lead-up to the 2000 Olympics but it also sold out, boosting the profile of a sport that was struggling for recognition.
Today, Perth Glory's first female team which is playing in the new national women's league is facing a similar battle for exposure.
But as Veronica Buck reports, the Glory girls want to be admired for their skills rather than their gender.