Shark Bay and Carnarvon open to travellers after cyclone Narelle floods devastate growers

Almost two weeks on from tropical cyclone Narelle, Carnarvon and Shark Bay are welcoming visitors as Exmouth still recovers from the devastating storm.

While Carnarvon has reopened, the floods from the Gascoyne River have left crops along the river damaged and growers devastated.

Roads north and south from Carnarvon are now open, after flooding forced closures in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone. North West Coastal Highway reopened between Carnarvon and Nanautarra on Saturday.

Tourism and hospitality operators welcomed visitors just in time for the school holidays.

Scott Clarke, co-owner of Telomac Tackle and Camping, has owned the store with his wife Tricia Clarke for one year on Tuesday.

He said he saw a significant drop in tourism compared to the Easter long weekend last year due to the road closures, with about half of their usual numbers. He encouraged travellers to still make the journey north.

“Come to Carnarvon. It’s underrated. The fishing is phenomenal. The weather’s great,” he said.

Tourism providers in Shark Bay had a similar message that the town was ready to accommodate visitors over the school holidays.

Trish Walker from Shark Bay Caravan Park said their accommodation was “fully booked out” over the long weekend and that it was a “good vibe” around the park.

“Everyone’s glad we’re open,” she said.

She said they were “very, very lucky”, and hadn’t had any damage from the storm, but had a big cleaning job to do.

“It was a lot of dust to clean-up,” she said.

Ms Walker said some people had wanted to extend their bookings, waiting around Shark Bay in the hope that roads to Exmouth would reopen.

Shark Bay shire president Peter Stubberfield said they had had a busy weekend of tourism after they “dodged a bullet” from the cyclone.

He said tourism numbers were similar to the same time last year and that school holidays were “always a busy period for us”.

Emergency services commended the local communities for their efforts to prepare before the cyclone, which Department of Fire and Emergency Services assistant commissioner Peter Sutton said “played a significant role in limiting the damage to the region”.

“I’d like to pay tribute to all SES volunteers, staff from other agencies, local governments, community groups and DFES personnel who rallied together and worked around the clock to protect communities affected by severe tropical cyclone Narelle,” he said.

“DFES will continue to support the Shire of Carnarvon as they lead recovery efforts.”

During the cyclone and in the week after, SES volunteers received more than 300 requests for assistance across the Pilbara and Mid West-Gascoyne region.

Premier Roger Cook visited Carnarvon last week and met some of the SES volunteers who took part in the clean-up.

Stations across the Gascoyne benefited from SES volunteers arriving by helicopter to join the efforts.

Kalbarri SES sent a team to stations to help recovery efforts, including tarping roofs and removing trees from driveways or buildings. SES leader Steve Cable said that recovery efforts needed to help people on the stations, and not just in town.

“That’s what it’s about, of course, to help people out,” he said.

“Going out in helicopters is also a bit of an adventure, but to get in and actually do the job, because these people are really isolated out there. They’re a long way from anywhere, so to be able to help and basically contribute and have a bit of fun with it is a really cool thing.”

Heavy rainfall in the Gascoyne saw damage to some properties surrounding the Gascoyne River, including the crops of Carnarvon Growers Association president Phil Fzrop.

He said the flooding was battering the same group of farmers who had their crops damaged in the 2021 floods.

“We just can’t continue the way we are,” he said.

While some growers were reporting damage of between 80-100 per cent of their crops, Mr Fzrop said the overall damage was still being assessed.

Mr Fzrop said Mr Cook and his team had not been in contact with the CGA during his visit or since the floods.

A State Government spokesperson said: “While in Carnarvon, the Premier met with shire president Eddie Smith and several local growers, where he was shown extensive damage to crops as a result of tropical cyclone Narelle.

“Together, State and Federal governments are committed to working with affected residents in the difficult weeks and months ahead.”

Mr Smith said “it was an excellent meeting” and that he and Mr Cook also discussed issues in the region like support for the agricultural and fishing industries.

The flow of the Gascoyne River is a silver lining for growers, after a year-and-a-half of an increasingly salty river.

Jayden Trigg, who runs Coastal Candid Photography, has used the opportunity to capture the special moment for the community.

“I especially love river photography, just because of the light that shines over the water, and the oranges and all the different colours that you don’t really get in other towns,” she said.

“It’s really a great time, because the whole community comes together.”