As conditions in the Pilbara region worsen ahead of the expected landfall of Tropical Cyclone Zelia, Western Roads Federation (WRF) CEO Cam Dumesny has called for transport companies to prioritise driver and staff safety during the weather event.
The category 5 storm is expected to cross the coastline sometime on Friday afternoon or evening, but the Pilbara coast has already been lashed with high-speed winds and severe flooding at the back end of an already wet summer for the region.
Winds of up to 320km/h and rainfall of up to 500mm are expected in the worst of the storm, however the storm has already caused flooding in and around the Port Hedland area.
Dumesny says after a week of preparation for Zelia, individual safety for those in the impacted regions must now be prioritised.
“The WA transport industry has been actively engaged working with the Department of Fire Emergency Services (DFES), Main Roads, retailers and other key suppliers over the last week to ensure essential supplies have been surged into the Pilbara and Kimberley regions,” Dumesny says.
“WRF has been actively engaged in several DFS resupply and emergency response working groups. Each of these working groups often includes relevant local and major transport operators whose contributions have been exceptional.
“The priority must now be on driver and staff safety in the region.”
Flooding in the region prior to Zelia making landfall has already cut off the Kimberley region, with the Great Northern Highway, Rippon Hills Road and Marble Bar Road all closed in preparation for the weather event.
One driver has already been rescued from Rippon Hills Road, with a helicopter required to remove him from his partially submerged truck near Marble Bar on Thursday morning.
Dumesny has praised the work of local transport and logistics companies in helping prepare communities in the Kimberley for the upcoming period of isolation caused by road closures and likely flooding.
“Precautionary actions have been implemented for the Kimberley which is now cut off from Perth,” he says. “For how long, no one knows.
“WRF, local and major transport companies have been working together with DFES during the week on measures to mitigate the supply risk to the Kimberley.
“The local knowledge of the transport and logistics operators has been invaluable.
“WRF has been updating the South Australian and Northern Territory governments, Main Roads and NHVR all week on the cyclone and its risks to Kimberley resupply, in the event an alternative 53.5m supply route is needed.
“The issues with subsidies and other matters inhibiting the viability of the route have also been raised with DFES.
“No preparations are perfect, but it is a credit to the transport and logistics industry that their substantive efforts have helped prepare the impacted region and expected isolated regions.”
Stay up to date with ongoing weather conditions and updates here.
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