The Western Australian transport industry is continuing to prepare for the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Zelia as it prepares to hit land later today.
Over the past week, the WA transport sector has been working with the Department of Fire Emergency Services (DFES), Main Roads WA, retailers and other key suppliers to provide essential supplies into the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.
Western Roads Federation (WRF) has worked with several DFES branches to be active in re-supply and emergency response working groups, with local and major transport operators also contributing.
“The priority must now be on driver and staff safety in the region,” WRF CEO Cam Dumesny says.
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“Many transport and logistics companies are working with their customers on recovery phase plans to restock the impacted area after Tropical Cyclone Zelia passes.
“However, these plans will need to be flexible, as it is highly likely that there will be significant road damage. Main Roads WA has teams in place ready to move into the area to deal with road damage once given the all-clear to do so.”
Even so, with the extent of road damage unknown and the saturation of the area, Dumesny says any repairs to the road network may take time.
“Pre-cautionary actions have also been implemented for the Kimberley, which is now cut off from Perth and for how long, no one knows,” he says.
He says the 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. Throughout this process, he says 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 the 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,” Dumesny says.
“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
“All focus must now be on the safety of drivers and staff in the region.”
Keep up to date with the latest Tropical Cyclone Zelia news here.
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