Great Northern Highway and the Fitzroy Crossing Bridge damaged as a result of floodwaters. Photo: Facebook / Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA
Western Australia's premier says it could take months before authorities can restore critical infrastructure in remote towns ravaged by the state's worst floods on record.
Mark McGowan described the infrastructure damage caused by flooding in the Kimberley region as "extraordinary", with the daunting task of rebuilding towns and communities becoming clearer as water levels drop.
Former tropical cyclone Ellie saw the town of Fitzroy Crossing hit with record water levels last week, with residents needing to be evacuated, homes inundated and significant damage to roads and bridges.
#kimberley floods. An area 3 times the size of the UK under water. Pics x Lach McClymont. Thanking my old school mate Bec Crozier from Nerrima Station for all the Kimberley contacts. #ozfloods pic.twitter.com/091AQlJotr
— Nicole Johnston (@nicolejohno) January 9, 2023
The magnitude of repairs was starting to become apparent, McGowan said.
"The damage to the roads and bridge is extraordinary, and will take a long time to fix," he said. "This is an issue we're going to have to manage for months, if not longer."
The Fitzroy River bridge, the only sealed road linking Broome with the rest of the Kimberley and Northern Territory, was almost completely destroyed.
Authorities believe the Minnie and Cockatoo Bridges near the Willare crossing, where floodwaters are now peaking between Derby and Broome, have also been damaged.
An alternate crossing at Fitzroy Crossing - an old floodway - is unlikely to be assessed and activated until the waters recede and the wet season ends, due to the possibility of further floods and weather events.
"The bridge will have to be rebuilt, and any work can't commence until after the wet season," McGowan said. "This is a massive logistical exercise and will take a long period of time."
Freight and supplies nightmare
The rebuild has implications for national freight and logistics, down to the ability of residents to return home.
Derby West Kimberley shire president Geoff Haerewa said it could be weeks before the region's major highway was safe to reopen.
"Minnie Bridge and Cockatoo Bridge near Ski Lake [along Great Northern Highway near Willare] are underwater," he said. "Fortunately we've got RAAF Curtin where large planes can land, and barges coming up from Port Hedland and Broome."
He said the main bridge at Willare was withstanding the floodwaters as of Monday afternoon, and he appreciated the willingness of both McGowan and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to inspect the damage firsthand and listen to locals.
Water 'as far as the eye can see'
Federal Emergency Management Minister Senator Murray Wyatt said the amount of water over land was staggering.
"From the air both as you're approaching Broome and then heading out to Fitzroy Crossing, the water coverage really goes as far as the eye can see," he said.
"The Fitzroy River is coming down quite quickly, the flood levels are receding in most parts, but what we've been hearing over the last few days is that at points at the peak, the Fitzroy River expanded to be about 50 kilometres wide, which is just an enormous amount of water.
"So it's a massive flood … it's a record-breaking flood in what is already a wet part of Australia."
- ABC
