1. Guest
  2. Login | Subscribe
 
     
Forgot Login?  

FREE Newsletter Subscription, Click The 'Subscribe' Button Below To Subscribe!

Weekday News Bulletin

PortMac.News FREE Weekday Email News Bulletin

Be better informed, subscribe to our FREE weekday news Update service here:

PortMac Menu

This Page Code

Page-QR-Code

Prolonged and heavy rainfall has turned towns in Western Australia's north into islands, testing the resilience of residents as some mark three months of being cut off.

Source : PortMac.News | Independent :

Source : PortMac.News | Independent | News Story:

main-block-ear
 
Floods : WA communities cut off, others become 'Islands'
Prolonged and heavy rainfall has turned towns in Western Australia's north into islands, testing the resilience of residents as some mark three months of being cut off.

News Story Summary:

Over the past week, Western Australia's Kimberley has been drenched by hundreds of millimetres of rain, adding to an already plentiful wet season.

Large sections of the region's main road, Great Northern Highway, have been closed due to flooding.

Over 900 kilometres of main roads and 1,000km of local roads are closed, making vehicle access into Fitzroy Crossing impossible and disrupting transport and supply routes to Halls Creek as floodwaters spill over the bitumen.

Darlgunaya resident Natalie Davey said her small community, just outside Fitzroy Crossing, had become waterlocked in the past week.

"We've all turned into little islands between Fitzroy Crossing town, Darlgunaya where I am, Brooking, Bungardi, we're all like little islands now," she said.

"The last time [the river height] has come up to here, I think it was 2012."

With the supply of food low and no way of trucking it in, plane and helicopter loads of emergency supplies have been flown into the central Kimberley towns, which are home to thousands of residents.

"We got a top-up of supplies last week, which was really good, a few people [in the community] have boats so have been able to go in [to Fitzroy Crossing] and get some things," Ms Davey said.

Three months of isolation

Meanwhile, on the edge of the Tanami Desert, the heavy rain has exacerbated the softness on red gravel roads to the remote communities of Balgo, Mulan and Bililuna, which are now into their third month cut off from the rest of the country — one of the longest periods of isolation many can remember.

Balgo's Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation joint-chief executive Hugh Lovesey said supplies and resources were now reaching their limits, despite nearly $1 million worth of stock being brought in before the wet in preparation for isolation.

"We haven't had a truck in from Halls Creek, which is our normal delivery point, since before Christmas, so it's very serious," he said.

He said they had received a lot of help in the resupply of staples from emergency services, with fuel being flown in late last week to make sure the community did not lose power.

"They've been good, sending in fruit and vegetables and bread, but we are now running short of toilet paper, health products and that is a serious matter for the average person," he said.

Balgo resident and Kukatja man Ronald Mosquito said the prolonged isolation had made some aspects of life challenging and confusing for many.

"I can't believe it," he said.

"Normally it rains for a month, but it's been two-to-three months now, this is something new."

But he said the community was still in high spirits, appreciating the transformation of the landscape and the cooler weather.

"The country feels happy and in good spirits," he said.

"It's good to go fishing, swimming and hunting for bush turkey and goanna.

"The rain has made [hunting] easier because we can see their muddy footprints everywhere."

Motorists stranded after ignoring road closure

The closure of Great Northern Highway has resulted in motorists, including trucks, becoming stranded.

Several people in a convoy of cars remain stuck between two bodies of floodwater after trying to drive from Derby to Fitzroy Crossing.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Kimberley Superintendent Grant Pipe said it was disappointing those people disobeyed the Great Northern Highway road closure, but he was confident they had enough supplies to wait it out.

Bureau of Meteorology senior flood forecaster Peter Zimmerman said the Fitzroy River hit the 11-metre flood level mark over the weekend, but believed the heaviest rain should have now passed.

"But you still need to be aware when travelling, as we know with the Fitzroy we know the water will take several days for the water to clear out," he said.

The Great Northern Highway will remain closed until at least Tuesday.

Story By | Tyne Logan & Dylan Storer


Share This Information :

Submit to DeliciousSubmit to DiggSubmit to FacebookSubmit to Google PlusSubmit to StumbleuponSubmit to TechnoratiSubmit to TwitterSubmit to LinkedIn

Add A Comment :


Security code

Please enter security code from above or Click 'Refresh' for another code.

Refresh


All Comments are checked by Admin before publication

Guest Menu

All Content & Images Copyright Portmac.news & Xitranet© 2013-2024 | Site Code : 03601