Recovering from tropical cyclones is challenging for many communities but even more so when support and technical help is a four hour drive away.

For the Western Australian communities of Mingenew, Morawa and Perenjori the tyranny of distance has placed significant challenges on their recovery from the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Seroja in April 2021.

Not only did residents lose roofs and suffer major property damage, but the cyclone’s estimated $350 million destructive path also impacted many public areas, essential to the social fabric of these communities and local tourism. Rest areas for passing travellers were impacted with damage to the infrastructure of amenities. Nature reserves surrounding the region’s towns, which are critical during the wildflower tourism season, were also damaged. 

Remoteness impacts Seroja recovery

The remote location of these communities and limited number of local government personnel meant that the recovery of these important public spaces was significantly delayed. Now Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local stream (PACPL) funding is helping the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council Incorporated to create guidelines that will support councils to undertake future recovery work themselves.

In consultation with community and technical experts, project funding has been provided to develop a set of non-technical guidelines that local government staff and community members can use to implement environmental recovery activities in cyclone impacted parts of the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR).  

The guidelines will be based on the re-establishment of natural environments and build internal and community capacity post-cyclone to reduce the likelihood and extent of vegetation damage from future cyclones.

The draft guidelines will be tested at three pre-determined demonstration sites in each of the partner local government areas (Mingenew, Morawa, and Perenjori) before being widely available.

Other government support

In the wake of Tropical Cyclone Seroja Australian Government disaster recovery support for individuals, primary producers and small businesses has supported residents in the impacted regions. Andrew Moore, a local primary producer, has been able to rebuild the agricultural infrastructure on his farm. Doug Brown, a local turf business owner also received financial help to rebuild when Seroja’s winds tore the nails out of his roof and damaged his turf.

To learn more about how we’re helping communities recover from disasters visit Australian Government disaster recovery support.