Flooding preparation around Gascoyne River, relief payments available for people in cyclone-devastated north

Carnarvon is battling widespread flooding as water levels across the Gascoyne continue to rise in the wake of cyclone Narelle.

As the clean-up continued in and around the ravaged town of Exmouth on Sunday, Carnarvon locals and emergency services personnel spent much of the day frantically preparing for the dangerous flooding, including opening an evacuation centre at Carnarvon PCYC.

Earlier the Department of Fire and Emergency Services had to rescue a couple who had driven through road closures and become trapped in floodwaters across Great Northern Highway, about 5.30am.

About 1km north of the Minilya Roadhouse, the pair were airlifted to safety by a helicopter and taken to Carnarvon for medical assessment. Their 4WD was later towed from the floodwaters by a truck and taken to the roadhouse.

It follows Premier Roger Cook’s announcement of cash relief payments for West Australians whose homes were hit by the cyclone, ahead of his plans to visit the ravaged Gascoyne region on Monday.

As a category 4 system in WA’s north, Narelle’s 250km/h winds tore roofs from homes and cut power and the downpour flooded properties and roads.

Exmouth was hardest hit, with four structures completely destroyed and many others significantly damaged, while food plantations in Carnarvon were also pummelled.

With a massive clean-up still to come, the Premier announced relief payments of up to $4000 for people whose homes were destroyed to pay for emergency accommodation, food and clothing.

A one-off payment of $2000 is also available to people whose homes suffered major damage.

Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia expected the damage bill to rise as more assessments are completed.

Mr Cook said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had also assured him that the Commonwealth was also “ready to do whatever it can to help Western Australians in their time of need”.

“While the worst is behind us, the situation remains fluid as emergency services personnel continue to assess the damage,” the Premier said on Sunday.

“As of late yesterday, power and water supply has been gradually restored to homes and businesses in Exmouth.

“Let’s be clear, though, this was a severe and very powerful cyclone.”

Commercial flights in and out of Learmonth Airport remain cancelled due to damaged infrastructure, but the runway was still operating for emergency services, Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said.

“I was advised yesterday that the damage to the terminal was something that was going to take about a week to resolve ... but they’ll need to get in there and do a full assessment,” Mr Klemm said.

It was too early to estimate the total clean-up bill, which would take “weeks”, he said.

“There’s 2000 homes and plus all the other structures that are in Exmouth - there’s a fair bit of work to do to go through those places, structure by structure,” Mr Klemm said.

Mr Papalia said about 30 pastoral properties had been extensively damaged, and support would arrive in coming days.

Crops in and around Carnarvon had been thrashed, and Bullara Station between Exmouth and Coral Bay had been hard hit by flood water and a storm surge.

While an evacuation plan had been developed for the homestead owners and 15 other people on site, “currently they’re happy to stay where they are”, Mr Klemm said.

The Premier will travel to the Gascoyne on Monday to assess the damage and meet with local community members who had suffered losses.

“My message to them will be clear, my government is committed to helping you fully rebuild and recover following this incident,” he said.

The cyclone could not have come at a worse time for tourism opertors in the State’s north, with the damage causing would-be travellers to cancel their Easter long weekend plans and countless more to reconsider them.

Mr Cook acknowledged visitors could get in the way of recovery efforts but did not encourage cancellations.

“Please, please be cautious,” he said.

“A number of roads along the Great Northern Highway and Northwest Coastal highway and Indian Ocean Drive remain closed due to water inundation.

“There is a vast amount of water in the region. Make sure you don’t put you and your your family in any danger.

“Importantly, contact your tourism operator to see what the situation on the ground is.

“We don’t want people to avoid enjoying themselves over the Easter period. We don’t want them to not go and spend their valuable dollars in those regional towns.”

Mr Klemm said it was going to take a long time for waters to recede, warning drivers that turning around would be difficult, with road shoulders sodden.

A flood watch and act warning remained in place Sunday evening for people along the Gascoyne River between Carnarvon and Gascoyne Junction, with Nine Mile Bridge predicted to be underwater by Monday morning.

A watch and act flood warning is also in place for the Lyndon-Minilya Rivers catchments, with the Minilya Bridge now flooded.