Mid West rallies to aid Carnarvon
The Mid West has rallied behind the Gascoyne communities battered by a second wave of devastating floods.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard will fly into the stricken town today to inspect the damage as growers and residents count the cost of another inundation just as repairs were getting under way.
Heavy rains and thunderstorms in the catchment area throughout the past two days are causing fluctuations in the Gascoyne River depth and heavy flooding has cut off the inland town of Gascoyne Junction and surrounding stations.
Emergency services from Geraldton, Shark Bay and Kalbarri have again been called to Carnarvon to help with relief efforts.
FESA fire services area manager Ian Comben said 12 State emergency Service volunteers had been sent in from the Mid West.
“The Morawa unit is on standby and set to go up Saturday afternoon,” he said.
Mr Comben said there were also three SES managers, a fire services manager and an indigenous liaison officer sent out.
Geraldton-Greenough mayor Ian Carpenter said the City had donated $10,000 to the relief effort, and a fund was set up for anyone in the community who wanted to donate.
“I spoke to the Carnarvon CEO Maurice Battilana and let him know we’ll do everything we can to support them,” he said.
“The Lord Mayor in Perth has a distress relief fund set up. It’s already an authorised charity organisation — people from anywhere in the State can contribute.”
Cr Carpenter said this was the best way for people in Geraldton to donate.
The LMDRF is run by an independent board and all funds go directly to disaster victims.
Contributions can be made at any Bankwestbranch or by credit card through the City of Perth on 9461 3333.
The Gascoyne River at Nine Mile Bridge peaked yesterday at 6.5 metres, and had fallen to 6.4m by 11.30am.
“We expect it to continue to slowly fall through the day, and rise again from about midnight (yesterday),” Mr Comben said.
“There has been isolated thunderstorms out there in the catchment. Some of those have been quite heavy.”
He said SES had not been taking a lot of calls for assistance from the public, and there were no airlifts required out so far in this round of floods.
“The main issue is the re-supply of essential items for Gascoyne Junction.
“We have a plane landing in Gascoyne Junction this afternoon (Thursday) and we will take supplies out to surrounding stations from there,” he said.
Shire president Dudley Maslen praised the community effort since the flood.
“We can be really proud of what we have achieved so far,” he said.
“The community spirit has been fantastic.”
CALEB SAMSON
