Cyclone Narelle Relief: $4000 Payments for West Australians with Damaged Homes
Premier Roger Cook has announced immediate financial assistance for West Australians impacted by the devastating Cyclone Narelle, with relief payments of up to $4000 available for those with destroyed homes. The announcement comes ahead of his visit to the ravaged Gascoyne region, where the category 4 system caused widespread destruction.
Severe Damage and Ongoing Warnings
As a powerful category 4 cyclone in Western Australia's north, Cyclone Narelle unleashed winds exceeding 250km/h, tearing roofs from homes, cutting power, and flooding properties and roads. Exmouth was the hardest-hit area, while food plantations in Carnarvon suffered significant damage. Watch and act warnings remain in place for the Gascoyne River and Lyndon-Minilya Rivers catchments, with the Lyndon River Bridge completely submerged.
Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia reported that at least four structures in Exmouth have been completely destroyed, with seven severely damaged, 12 moderately damaged, and eight with minor damage. "These numbers are expected to increase today as more assessments are completed," he said.
Relief Payments and Support Details
The Premier detailed the relief payments, which aim to help affected residents cover emergency costs:
- Up to $4000 for individuals whose homes were destroyed, to pay for emergency accommodation, food, and clothing.
- A one-off payment of $2000 per household for eligible applicants with homes that have suffered major damage.
Mr. Cook emphasized that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has assured Commonwealth support, stating, "The Commonwealth is ready to do whatever it can to help Western Australians in their time of need." He added, "While the worst is behind us, the situation remains fluid as emergency services personnel continue to assess the damage."
Infrastructure and Clean-Up Challenges
Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm highlighted ongoing challenges, noting that commercial flights in and out of Learmonth Airport remain cancelled due to damaged infrastructure, though the runway is operational for emergency services. "The damage to the terminal was something that was going to take about a week to resolve," he said, with a full assessment pending.
The clean-up is expected to take weeks, with Klemm estimating a significant effort required for over 2000 homes and other structures in Exmouth. "It's too early to estimate the total clean-up bill," he said, warning that road conditions are hazardous due to water inundation, with many highways closed.
Impact on Agriculture and Tourism
Minister Papalia reported extensive damage to about 30 pastoral properties, with support planned in the coming days. Crops in Carnarvon have been thrashed, and Bullara Station between Exmouth and Coral Bay was hard hit by flood water and a storm surge.
The cyclone has also disrupted tourism, with many travellers cancelling Easter long weekend plans. Premier Cook urged caution but did not encourage cancellations, saying, "We don't want people to avoid enjoying themselves over the Easter period. Contact your tourism operator to see what the situation on the ground is."
As recovery efforts continue, the Premier will travel to the Gascoyne region to assess damage and meet with affected community members, reaffirming his government's commitment to rebuilding and recovery.
