The road from Brooking channel to the Fitzroy bridge at 11am on Sunday.Credit:Alyssa Storer.
“This has been a traumatic experience for people and people are doing it tough and we will have to do everything we can to make sure there is mental health support on the ground.
“When you go and look at the damage that was done to the bridges and the roads,you see the power of this water and the difference it has made.
“What is extraordinary is that there isn’t a greater human cost.
“You can rebuild roads,you can rebuild houses,you cannot rebuild lives.”
The prime minister confirmed the federal government would make eight Australian Defence Force aircraft available,with 200 military personnel expected to be on the ground by tomorrow.
WA Premier Mark McGowan said the state government would put every resource possible into fixing the town’s infrastructure,but warned the recovery process would be a long one.
“Getting those things fixed will be difficult,” he said.
“We can’t put a timeframe on that just yet,but it will affect travel throughout the Kimberley for some time.”
He also highlighted that the region was only one-third of the way into its wet season and more flooding could occur.
Prime Minister,Anthony Albanese,was in Broome with WA Premier Mark McGowan,Minister Murray Watt,WA Minister Stephen Dawson and Senator Patrick Dodson after flooding.Credit:PMO
Cattle have begun washing up around the Derby area,which was cut off after being battered by heavy rainfall.
Shire of Derby president Geoff Haerewa told Radio 6PR his primary concern was where that water was headed,with reports it was now surging towards the town’s main airport.
“Derby is quite resilient and we can be supplied via barge into the Derby Port,” he said.
“We also have the Curtin RAAF base,which would take some substantial aircraft.
“But I was talking to one of my councillors,who is at Derby airport now,and he’s saying the high tides and the volume of water coming down is moving towards our main airport.”
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said authorities were monitoring the Derby airstrip and were preparing to deliver more food and supplies via the town’s barge.
Mr Haerewa said the local government would now turn its attention to future-proofing,highlighting that the town’s recreation-turned-evacuation centre did not have the kitchen and toilet facilities necessary to support 200-300 people.
Mount Barnett. Kimberley flooding,floods.Credit:WA Police
“We’d like to future-proof a lot of the roads and,as you know,the bridge,so that these sorts of situations don’t impact us for longer periods of time,” he said.
“We’re only at the start of the wet season and in another month,it could be blown away again.
“That’s one of our biggest concerns and,obviously,where we’re going to house the people who have been displaced and how we can access funds to get as much housing in place as possible.
“You know,in hindsight,a lot more could have been done earlier and we’re going to learn from this.”
On Saturday,the state government announced a $3 million contribution to theLord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund Appeal.
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