Ravensthorpe president slams Premier

The Shire of Ravensthorpe president Keith Dunlop has criticised WA Premier Colin Barnett for not visiting the flood stricken region earlier this week.

While Mr Dunlop welcomed the State’s announcement of disaster funding for the region he said it came with a huge administrative burden.

Mr Dunlop he was also saddened that Mr Barnett, who was in Albany on Sunday and Monday, did not visit Ravensthorpe, less than 300km to the east.

“The community is very disappointed Mr Barnett...could not make the time to come and see first-hand the devastation we have suffered,” he said.

On Monday afternoon, Mr Barnett visited properties affected by the farms in the Swan Valley after leaving Albany.

“There are tens of millions of dollars damage to state and local government road infrastructure let alone the loss off hundreds of kilometres of farmers fencing, severe paddock scouring, loss of valuable topsoil and stock losses,” Mr Dunlop said.