Roger Cook issues warning to people with Easter travel plans in WA after cyclone Narelle smashes State

Roger Cook has inspected Carnarvon crops damaged by cyclone Narelle, as tourists are bussed out of the devastated town of Exmouth and Coral Bay is cut off by floods.

The Premier’s urging tourists not to cancel holidays in the State’s north, but the official advice from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services is to “reconsider all travel” with many roads left flood-stricken or damaged.

“We want people to explore, wander out yonder, as we say, into Western Australia,” Mr Cook said.

But he added a caveat: “You have to do that, heeding the advice and the warnings from emergency services.

“Do not try to go around road closures. It can be dangerous for you and your family, and can put emergency services personnel in danger as well.”

Tourist operators in Coral Bay are already feeling the impact of cancellations.

“It’s upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” eco-tour operator Frazer McGregor told 7News.

A dozen buildings in the town, that’s roughly halfway between Exmouth and Carnarvon, have been damaged including the local nursing post.

Food and fuel supplies are limited.

The Premier visited the damage zone in Exmouth on Monday, Carnarvon on Tuesday, but won’t make it to Coral Bay before heading back to Perth.

He denied the town has been forgotten, with residents complaining that only one DFES crew and three SES volunteers have been deployed there.

“We have had widespread damage and devastation as a result of this, this weather event, it’s travelled down the coastline, taking out communities along the way,” Mr Cook said.

“We are in the process of assessing the damage and getting help to people who need it most.

“We just ask people to continue to be patient. We’ll get to you.”

Nationals Leader Shane Love has called for disaster recovery funding to be expanded.

“No community impacted by this event should be left behind,” he said.

“The Upper Gascoyne must be included in recovery support so pastoralists who have sustained significant damage to property and infrastructure are eligible for the financial assistance they urgently need.”

Exmouth, Carnarvon and Shark Bay are already eligible, and half a dozen families and businesses have applied for emergency payments of up to $4000 for immediate help.

Both the State and Federal Governments have promised long-term support for affected towns.

Assistant Federal Minister for Emergency Services and Climate Change Josh Wilson said the damage to agriculture is significant.

“Probably 70 to 80 per cent of the fruit there will be will be lost as a result of this event,” he said.

“That’s pretty rough, but at the same time, you do see Australians showing their best, rising to these kinds of challenges.

“We’ve got SES volunteers behind us who have come up from Perth. Yesterday, the Premier took a selfie with some SES volunteers that came all the way across from Queensland.”