Western Australia’s ‘Worst Flooding Ever Seen’ Spurs Visit From PM

A supplied image obtained on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, of floodwaters across the Great Northern Hwy at Fitzroy Crossing, Bunuba country, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. AAP Image/Supplied by Andrea Myers

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is joining Premier Mark McGowan to witness first-hand the devastation wrought by the once-in-a-century flood to the Kimberly region in Western Australia.

The tour will be centred around Fitzroy Crossing, a small desert town that bore the brunt of the flood waters dumped by ex-tropical cyclone Ellie.

The waters of the Fitzroy River near the town surpassed previous records, peaking at 15.81 metres (52 feet) on Jan. 4, breaking its 2002 record of 13.95 metres while leaving roads and infrastructure damaged.

To assist with the recovery effort, Albanese and McGowan jointly announced that disaster recovery assistance has been made available to flood-affected communities in shires of Derby-West Kimberley, Broome, Wyndham-East Kimberley, and Halls Creek.

The assistance will be available to individuals, families, businesses, primary producers, non-profit organisations, and local governments.

Additionally, Albanese promised to provide any support the Western Australian government requests.

“We have already deployed aircraft to assist with evacuations and to transport crucial supplies and will continue to provide support now and long after the water recedes,” he said.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt, who also joined the prime minister on the tour, said the amount of rainfall has been “extraordinary.”

“This sheer amount of water that is flowing through the region is just staggering, and the impact this is having on these communities is immense,” he said.

A supplied image obtained on Jan. 6, 2023, shows an aerial view of flooding at Fitzroy crossing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. A 50-kilometre-wide inland sea is surging towards the Kimberley coast after the swollen Fitzroy River devastated the town of Fitzroy Crossing earlier in the week. AAP Image/Supplied by Western Australia Police Force

Geoff Haerewa, the president of the Derby-West Kimberley Shire, said the town of Derby had become isolated by the flood waters.

“We’ve got roads that are cut off between Broome and Derby, which makes Derby—the centre of the West Kimberley—isolated as well,” he told ABC radio.

Haerewa noted that this was the first time that the entire West Kimberley had become isolated.

“The Fitzroy Crossing, in particular, has been split in half, with several communities on the east side of the river that have to be serviced from the east, and then we can’t even get in with trucks from the west,” he said.

“So it is a logistical challenge. But with resilience and the innovation that our people have got and the dedication our people have got, we’re going to do the best we can to get as much gear to these people as possible.”

One-in-100-Year Flood Event

Ex-tropical cyclone Ellie crossed west into the sparsely population Kimberley region, in the north of Western Australia (WA), from the Northern Territory on Dec. 28, 2022.

Since Dec. 30, 200 to 500 millimetres of rainfall have been recorded across the area and developed a 50-kilometre-wide inland sea.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said record-breaking major flooding will continue along the lower Fitzroy River, while the waters around Fitzroy Crossing are now at a minor flooding level and falling.

The main flood peak of the Fitzroy River is now around Willare, where it is peaking at 10.6 metres.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been called in to help with flood rescue and recovery efforts, deploying two C-27J Spartan and one C-130J Hercules transport aircraft to evacuate residents and bring in supplies.

Over 100 residents have been airlifted out. However, some have also chosen to stay behind and help with recovery efforts.

Haerewa said the evacuation centres in his area were just make-shift recreational halls that did not have the toilet or kitchen facilities to handle up to 300 evacuees.

“So those are the sort of things we’ll be looking for the future, to keep these evacuation centres fit-for-purpose,” he said.

A supplied image obtained on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, of floodwaters in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. AAP Image/Supplied by Andrea Myers

WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson described the event as the “worst flooding Western Australia has ever seen.”

“Nothing like this has ever been experienced in Western Australia before,” he told reporters on Jan. 7.

Locals have shared photos on social media showing the damage that the waters have left behind while they begin the recovery process.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton shared on Twitter his thoughts and prayers for everyone affected by the disaster.

“Thoughts and prayers for all of those affected by floods in WA at the moment. Thanks to the ADF, emergency service workers and volunteers for always being there,” he wrote.

Flood Concerns Easing in Top End

Meanwhile, the BOM has cancelled severe weather warnings for remote communities in the Northern Territory (NT) on Jan. 8.

The region had been bracing for impact as Ellie moved back into the NT after wreaking havoc in WA.

“Ex-tropical cyclone Ellie has finally weakened over southwestern parts of the NT,” the BOM said.

“Severe weather is no longer occurring in Northern Territory. Thunderstorm activity in the Simpson district later today may bring isolated heavy rainfall, and a severe thunderstorm warning will be issued if this occurs.”

While the immediate threat has passed, the situation will continue to be monitored.

Nina Nguyen contributed to this report.