SW surfers ordered out after shark sightings

OLD FRIEND: A great white which was pictured menacing a fishing boat at Quindalup on an earlier occasion. Source: PerthNow

OLD FRIEND: A great white which was pictured menacing a fishing boat at Quindalup on an earlier occasion. Source: PerthNow

SURFERS have been ordered out of the water following two separate shark sightings in the state's South West near Margarat River.

A four-metre shark was spotted by the South West Lifesaver Helicopter around 200 metres off Honeycombs surf break near Wilyabrup just after 3pm today.

Surf Life Saving WA said the water has been cleared as a result.

Earlier this morning the helicopter spotted a 2.5 metre shark 200 metres offshore at Lefthanders surf break in Gracetown at about 11am.

The water was also cleared as a result.

The helicopter also saw two-metre hammerhead 200m offshore at Boranup. It was heading south.

Earlier today a 3m-4m shark has been sighted about 700m off the Quindalup boat ramp, just east of Dunsborough.

Surf Life Saving WA reported a large fin was seen 700 metres off the Quindalup boat ramp just after 1pm.

It is believed the shark was heading north.

A two-metre shark was also sighted 60m off shore at Strickland Bay, Rottnest at 11.20am.

The shark sightings today follows the drama yesterday in Esperance when about 30 people had to be rescued off a large rock at Twilight Beach when an estimated 6m white pointer was spotted from air.

 

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40.5C - and heatwave here to stay

COOL DOWN: With temps set to continue around 40C, Perth beaches will be busy. Source: PerthNow

THE temperature in Perth hit 40.5C, with the sweltering heatwave set to continue till at least Wednesday.

The blistering start to the day followed an uncomfortable night when the mercury dipped -- barely -- to 27.3C at 12.34am.

By 10am the temperature in Perth had already reached 36C. 

The 40.5C top came at 1.36pm.

Perth Airport reached 40.4C just before noon. Jandakot was 39.6C by just after midday.

Pearce, 45km from Perth, was the metro region's hotspot with a blistering 42.1C, which came at 2.30pm and Gingin, 80km north of Perth, reached 41.2C by early afternoon.

Heatwave to last till Wednesday

The stifling heatwave gripping Perth will continue until at least Wednesday.

Authorities have warned people to drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and coffee and stay indoors where possible.

 St John Ambulance has reported a spike in calls for heat-related emergencies and Surf Life Saving WA said it was battling a surge in beach rescues.

Metropolitan hospitals are admitting about 10 patients a day with heat-caused ailments.

SLSWA chief executive Paul Andrew said it had conducted 25 rescues, 254 first-aid procedures and 1180 preventative actions since the heatwave started on Christmas Day.

Today's temperature is expected to soar to 41C, followed by 39C on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

A storm is brewing for Wednesday, which will finally bring some relief, but could cause havoc of its own with lightning and strong winds. A Western Power spokeswoman said electricity use had peaked at 3222MW in the past few days  still below the year's top of 4068MW on January 25.

State Health Co-ordinator Tarun Weeramanthri has warned that the heatwave's dangers would worsen as it drags on.

"Effects build up over a number of days and people eventually become exhausted, especially with warm nights," he said.

"So you actually have to become more aware and more vigilant, as the risk increases the longer the heatwave goes on.

"The vulnerable groups are the elderly, particularly over the age of 65, the very young, and those with medical conditions."

Dr Weeramanthri said people should drink at least two litres of water a day, avoid alcohol and caffeine and use common sense when they were celebrating on New Year's Eve.

Perth - The Week Ahead

   Saturday
    Min 23C
    Max 41C
    Chance of an early storm.
Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms early in the morning. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h early in the morning then tending east to southeasterly in the late afternoon..

Sunday
    Min 25C
    Max 41C
    Partly cloudy. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h shifting west to northwesterly in the late morning then becoming light in the late afternoon..

Monday

   Min 23C
    Max 39C
    Partly cloudy. Winds east to southeasterly and light tending east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Tuesday

    Min 24C
    Max 39C
    Mostly sunny. Winds east to southeasterly and light tending west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then tending south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening..

Wednesday
    Min 23C
    Max 33C
    Partly cloudy.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms later in the day. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.

Thursday
    Min 20C
    Max 27C
    Isolated showers and thunderstorms during the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.
 

Friday
    Min 17C
    Max 34C
    Mostly sunny. Winds southeasterly 20 to 25 km/h turning easterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.

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Man charged with attacking police officer

CHARGED: A Willetton man has been charged with assaulting a police officer in Northbridge early today. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij Source: PerthNow

CHARGED: A Willetton man has been charged with assaulting a police officer in Northbridge early today. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij Source: PerthNow

A WILLETTON man has been charged with assaulting a police officer following an alleged incident in Northbridge overnight.

The officer was taken to hospital for treatment for a laceration above his eye and a fracture to his hand after he was allegedly punched in the face near the VooDoo Lounge nightclub at about 2.30am.

The male constable was on bike patrol with his partner when they stopped to speak to a 23-year-old man near James Street and Mountain Terrace.

Police said in the course of the conversation the man then punched the officer in the face.

A brief struggle followed but officers were able to contain the man and arrested then later charged him with assaulting a public officer.

He is due to appear at Perth Magistrate's Court on January 11.

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Raging bushfire closes Kwinana Freeway

WILDFIRE: Firefighters are battling to contain a bushfire which has jumped Kwinana Freeway near Bertram. Picture: Stanley King Source: PerthNow

WILDFIRE: Firefighters are battling to contain a bushfire which has jumped Kwinana Freeway near Bertram. Picture: Stanley King Source: PerthNow

WILDFIRE: Firefighters are battling to contain a bushfire which has jumped Kwinana Freeway near Bertram. Picture: Stanley King Source: PerthNow

WILDFIRE: Firefighters are battling to contain a bushfire which has jumped Kwinana Freeway near Bertram. Picture: Stanley King Source: PerthNow

WILDFIRE: Firefighters are battling to contain a bushfire which has jumped Kwinana Freeway near Bertram. Picture: Stanley King Source: PerthNow

WILDFIRE: Firefighters are battling to contain a bushfire which has jumped Kwinana Freeway near Bertram. Picture: Stanley King Source: PerthNow

KWINANA Freeway has been closed in both directions as firefighters continue to battle a bushfire which they believe was deliberately lit.

Nearly 100 volunteer and career firefighters are battling the blaze, which broke out just after 1.15pm.

Three helitacs were dispatched to the scene as well as around 18 fire appliances to bring the fire under control.

The fire started near Bertram Primary School but is now heading along Johnson Road towards Thomas Road has has burnt about 5ha.

Smoke is causing major problems for traffic.

There is no threat to lives or homes but there is a lot of smoke in the area. 
 
If you have a respiratory condition and you have been affected by smoke you should contact your local doctor or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222.

Main Roads closed the freeway to traffic just before 4pm.

A bushfire advice warning has been issued for people in an area east of the rail line in Bertram and west of Bombay Boulevard in Casuarina, extending north to Anketell Road in Anketell in the Town of Kwinana.

Residents have been told to stay alert and monitor their surroundings.

ROAD CLOSURES:
The following roads are closed:
The Kwinana Freeway, both north bound and south bound lanes, between Thomas Road and Mortimer Road in Bertram; Johnson Road between Price Parkway and Thomas Road in Bertram.

Motorists should avoid the area and be aware of fire and other emergency services personnel working on site.

Fire conditions are severe, with temperatures still in the high 30s after peaking at 40.5C around 1.30pm.

Firefighters battle Lake Muir blaze

Firefighters are battling a second blaze 10km south-east of Lake Muir in the Shire of Manjimup, in the South West.

A bushfire advice has been issued for people 10km south-east of Lake Muir and 10km south of Muir Highway for a fire burning in Lake Muir National Park.
 
There is no threat to lives or homes. Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date.

The bushfire is moving at a moderate speed and has burnt through about 3ha.
 
DEC ground crews are being assisted by two fixed wing water bombers.

The fire is suspected to have been caused by lightning

Today's fires come just days after a blaze, caused by a falling power pole, ripped through the outskirts of Chidlow on Thursday.

While no homes were destroyed during the incident, flames from the ferocious fire came close. A number of sheds and fences were destroyed and farmland was burnt.

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Perth hits 39C as heatwave intensifies

COOL DOWN: With temps set to continue around 40C, Perth beaches will be busy. Source: PerthNow

PERTH'S maximum passed 39C on Friday - continuing the state's week-long heatwave which has seen temperatures close to 40C for days on end.

Even Mandurah, normally a few degrees cooler than Perth, hit 38.4C.

And further north temperatures were even higher with Geraldton recording 40.C; Marble Bar 40.7C at 11.26am and Telfer, the state's hotspot, reaching 42.3C just after 1pm.

Cunderdin, in the central Wheatbelt hit 40.8C and Bridgetown, 270km south of Perth, also hit 38C.

The forecast for Perth for today was a stormy 38C, with a 30 per cent chance of some thunderstorms by the late afternoon.

Today's searing 39.3C maximum came at 12.28pm under a blanket of thundery cloud.

It follows Thursday's high of 38.3C and the Boxing Day scorcher where temps hit 40.5C at Perth Airport and 37.5C in the city at the Mt Lawley Bureau of Meteorology headquarters.

Christmas Day was 39.6C, the fifth hottest Perth Christmas on record.

Friday has been yet another scorcher, with at least three more days predicted to get to 40C of beyond.

The forecast for Saturday and Sunday is an ugly 41C, and Monday -- New Year's Eve -- is expected to be 39C. 

There is little relief in sight, with Tuesday also tipped to be 39C. By Wednesday next week the temperatures may drop to 33C.

Perth - The Week Ahead

   Saturday
    Min 23C
    Max 41C
    Chance of an early storm.
Partly cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms early in the morning. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h early in the morning then tending east to southeasterly in the late afternoon..

Sunday
    Min 25C
    Max 41C
    Partly cloudy. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h shifting west to northwesterly in the late morning then becoming light in the late afternoon..

Monday

   Min 23C
    Max 39C
    Partly cloudy. Winds east to southeasterly and light tending east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.

Tuesday

    Min 24C
    Max 39C
    Mostly sunny. Winds east to southeasterly and light tending west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then tending south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening..

Wednesday
    Min 23C
    Max 33C
    Partly cloudy.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms later in the day. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning.

Thursday
    Min 20C
    Max 27C
    Isolated showers and thunderstorms during the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southerly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.
 

Friday
    Min 17C
    Max 34C
    Mostly sunny. Winds southeasterly 20 to 25 km/h turning easterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.

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Australian shares hit 19-month high

THE Australian share market has hit 19-month highs on the last full day of trading for 2012, buoyed by gains among resources stocks.

It has risen 12 out of its last 14 sessions, is up by more than 15 per cent for the year and on target for its best annual gain since 2009.

At the close on Friday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 23.3 points, or 0.5 per cent higher at 4,671.3, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 23.9 points, or 0.51 per cent, at 4,685.3.

On the ASX 24, the December share price index futures contract was 18 points higher at 4,646, with 16,413 contracts traded.

The Australian market opened up about 0.5 per cent, pushing towards new highs, as traders welcomed rising iron ore prices in offshore trade.

The local market had posted its highest close in 17 months at the end of Thursday's Australian trading day with gains for the month nearly four per cent, the highest since last January.

The main reasons why included overnight investor pessimism about the looming fiscal cliff in the US turning to optimism and strong iron ore prices buoying the major miners, said IG Markets market strategist Stan Shamu.

The "cliff" refers to harsh tax hikes and drastic budget cuts to arrest the country's budget deficit but could tip the economy into recession if the White House and Congress can't find an alternative by their New Year's Eve deadline.

"The concerns about the fiscal cliff have now turned into optimism because supposedly President Obama has cut short his holiday and flown back to Washington to meet leaders later today to try and knock something up," he told AAP.

The iron ore price climbed three per cent overnight to $US139.40 ($A134.95) having sunk below $US90 ($A87.13) in September.

Rio Tinto gained $1.08, or 1.65 per cent, to $66.53, BHP Billiton was 41 cents, or 1.1 per cent, firmer at $37.40 and Fortescue Metals had put on 11 cents, or 2.43 per cent, to $4.64.

Retailers were in green figures in the wake of the Boxing Day sales.

JB Hi-Fi was nine cents, or 0.88 per cent, higher at $10.35, Myer was two cents firmer at $2.15, David Jones advanced two cents to $2.43 and Harvey Norman climbed four cents, or 2.12 per cent, to $1.925.

Local bank shares also gained ground following falls for three of the four majors on Thursday.

The Commonwealth Bank gained 13 cents to $62.25, Westpac lifted 17 cents to $26.27, ANZ closed nine cents higher at $25.00 and NAB rose by seven cents for the second day in a row, closing at $25.02.

National turnover was light with 874.6 million securities worth $1.53 billion changing hands, with 491 stocks up, 323 down and 338 unchanged.

Trading on New Year's Eve on Monday will close at 1410 AEDT.

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Rockingham is WA's Lotto hotspot

LUCKY COUNTRY: Rockingham is now the WA Lotto hotspot, with a recent Secret Harbour win. Source: The Daily Telegraph

LUCKY COUNTRY: Rockingham is now the WA Lotto hotspot, with a recent Secret Harbour win. Source: PerthNow

ROCKINGHAM is now the luckiest place in WA to buy a Lotto ticket.

Over the past year, the area has sold four Division 1 tickets worth a combined $3.3 million, including one last weekend in nearby Secret Harbour.

Mandurah previously held the top spot but is now ranked equal second with Cloverdale. Both areas sold three winning tickets in 2012.

According to Lotterywest, 32 is also the luckiest number, having been drawn 13 times followed by 30 (drawn 11 times) and the numbers 16, 17, 31 and 41 (drawn 10 times).

Regional areas are also considered 'luckier' than the city with Mandurah and Bunbury recording the largest division-one wins with $5 million and $4.8 million being won by players respectively.

In the city, Hilton Plaza Newsagency sold two $1.4 million tickets this year while the Riverton Forum Lottery Kiosk had two division-one winners in November and Kingfisher Newsagency, Bull Creek, sold an $851,790 ticket in March and a $1,052,631 winner in August.

A struggling farmer from Bencubbin, population 350, 280km northeast of Perth, scored $500,000 in a division-one win in September.

He travelled 40km to buy the ticket and celebrated his win with scotch fillet steak.

In April, a Pinjarra couple forgot they had bought a ticket and were prompted to check it only after reading about an unclaimed division-one win in their local newspaper. They took home $707,389.
In May, a man who bought a Lotto ticket with his spare change won $5 million after picking up the entire division-one Oz Lotto jackpot.
Only six years earlier his partner had also won a division-one prize.

Lotterywest spokesperson Pina Compagnone said around 830 tickets a minute are expected to be churned out for this Saturday's $30 million jackpot.

She also said the December 29 Megadraw is expected to raise over $8 million for the WA community.

2012 WA Lotto Hot Spots

1 Rockingham
Sold four Division 1 tickets worth a combined $3.3 million

2 Mandurah/Cloverdale

Mandurah: Sold three Division 1 tickets worth a combined $5 million

Cloverdale: Sold three Division 1 tickets worth a combined $3.9 million

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First cyclone forming off WA coast

CYCLONE BREWING: A cyclone is forming off the north west coast of WA. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology Source: PerthNow

A TROPICAL Cyclone - the first of the season - is forming off the North West coast of WA.

The Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said the tropical low is 790km northwest of Karratha and 750km north northwest of Exmouth and moving south at 13km/h.

"The system is not expected to affect the WA mainland in the next 48 hours,'' the centre said.

"This low is expected to move to the south southwest and develop into a tropical cyclone on Saturday or Sunday. At this stage it is not expected to produce damaging winds in coastal communities, however people in the north west
of Western Australia should monitor forecasts and warnings closely,'' the warning centre said.

Further information will be issued at 9pm.

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No charges for boys over suspicious fires

ARSON: Two boys are being questioned by police over a series of deliberately lit fires in South Lakes overnight.   Source: PerthNow

TWO juveniles who were being questioned by police over several suspicious scrub fires in South Lake overnight have been released without charge.

Between 10.15pm and 2.15am, firefighters and a number of police resources including Police Airwing and the Dog Squad were called to several locations near South Lake Drive where the fires were believed to be have been deliberately lit.

Two boys, both aged 15, were assisting Fremantle Police with their inquiries into the fires and late this morning, both were released without charge.

Police are continuing with their inquiries and officers are yet to speak to a third male juvenile who they believe may be able to assist them.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area or can provide further information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

With Perth and much of the state gripped by a severe heatwave, authorities are warning people to be extra vigilant of spot fires and firebugs.

Children playing with fire crackers are believed to have started a fire that threatened homes in Kenwick, Perth's southeast, last night about 9.30pm.

A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said the blaze started in bush and burnt about two hectares.

In a separate incident, exhaust from a car is believed to have started a fire in Upper Swan, in Perth's northeast, when a man doing fencing work parked his car on dry grass.

About $500,000 damage was caused when a faulty air conditioner started a fire around 12.30am today in Embleton, in Perth's north-east.

One person was believed to have been in the house but they escaped injury.

In Chidlow, a car suspected of being involved in a burnout caught fire at 12.30am, costing $8000 in damage.

Two youths have also been questioned by police over two incidents in which fires were believed to have been deliberately lit.

The first was in Darlington, in Perth's east, at 7pm last night where witnesses reported hearing an explosive banging sound before a fire was spotted in some scrub.

Arson Squad investigators attended the scene this morning and detectives spoke to two juveniles, aged 11 and 14, who will be referred to the Juvenile and Family Fire Awareness program.

DFES responded to this fire in bushland near Darlington Road last night, which burnt through approximately 250 square metres of bush.

The second was in South Lake, in Perth's south, about 10pm where tree scrubs and grass were set alight.

The DFES warns that residents need to be careful and aware of potential fire hazards, especially for the remainder of the week as Perth swelters in the heat and more accidental fires are likely.

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Severe storm warning north of Perth

WARNING: The Bureau has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of WA north and north-east of Perth. Source: PerthNow

A SEVERE thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of central WA north of Perth.

The thunderstorm forecast, issued this morning, warns of damaging wind, large hail and heavy rainfall for the Gascoyne, Central West and Central Wheat Belt forecast districts

The warning is for people in an area bounded by Wongan Hills to Moora to Mullewa to Murchison, Cue to Mount Jackson to Wongan Hills.

This includes people in or near Dalwallinu.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding from this afternoon in parts of the Gascoyne, Central West and Central Wheat Belt forecast districts.

The storms could hit this afternoon and evening.

Storms may be accompanied by:

- DAMAGING WINDS

- LARGE HAIL

- HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING.

Storms could cause damage to homes and property.

The overall weather pattern is not unusual for this time of year but severe weather may occur in some parts of the warning area.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

    Store or weigh down loose objects such as outdoor furniture.
    Have an emergency kit with a battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.
    Ensure pets and animals are in a safe area.
    Move vehicles under cover.
    Boat owners should securely moor their boats.
    Campers should find shelter away from trees, power lines, storm water drains and streams.
 

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