Tourism operators in the Kimberley are pleading with tourists not to cancel their bookings as the region copes with its biggest natural disaster in more than 100 years.
Record breaking floods have isolated Derby and Fitzroy Crossing, and are expected to limit tourism in the region for months to come.
The towns are inaccessible by road and flights in and out are predominantly being used by returning residents or essential service workers.
It comes after operators were forced to cope with two years of border closures due to Western Australia's pandemic response, effectively shutting out the interstate and international market.
Extent of damage
National parks and Kimberley businesses recorded a boom in visitor numbers last year, with a record number of tourists returning to Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park.
While staff at the gorge pack up main infrastructure prior to the wet season, this year's 16-metre flood appears to have destroyed roads into the park and sent much of it underwater.
Senior ranger Ian Cooksey said the damage had not yet been completely assessed but it was looking extensive.
"The gazebo doesn't exist anymore, the river level got about five meters above the roof height," he said.
Mr Cooksey, who with Bunuba rangers maintains the park throughout the dry season, said it would be difficult to see their hard work washed away.
"That'll be hard to face when it comes to that point, but there's a lot of other other work to be done between now and then," he said.
Call out for government help
Bunuba tourism operator Jimmy Dillon Andrews said he hoped tourists would return to Fitzroy Crossing once it was back on its feet.
He said the region had specific stories and history tourists could not hear anywhere else but the central Kimberley.
"People still want to come and hear about Jandamarra," he said.
Jandamarra was a Bunuba warrior known for fighting back against colonisation, with his story helping cement Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge, two popular tourist destinations near Fitzroy Crossing.
"We would like tourists to still come up," he said.
"Tourism is a good project for people in the central Kimberley ... tourism is the way of the future.
"I've been here for a long time — over 20 years — and I know it really supports remote communities and builds a partnership between [large tour operators] and Aboriginal people."
Experienced official named recovery lead
The state government has also taken its next step towards the formal recovery and rebuilding process, appointing regional development and agriculture official Rob Cossart as State Recovery Coordinator.
Currently Chief Executive of the Wheatbelt Development Commission, Mr Cossart also has previously worked in the Kimberley across senior positions in the Departments of Water and Primary Industries and Regional Development.
He previously served as recovery coordinator for the bushfires in Shackleton East and Narrogin that devastated the Wheatbelt towns last year.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said Mr Cossart would work alongside a yet-to-be appointed Kimberley Recovery Coordinator to ensure the best possible response as the rebuild begins.
"As we get a clearer picture of the extent of the damage caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie, the appointment of a State Recovery Coodinator is an important step in determining the support needed for what will be a long recovery journey," Mr Dawson said.
"Rob Cossart has extensive experience in the Kimberley and is respected as an outstanding community leader, which makes him the ideal choice to lead this significant recovery effort."
Businesses fear impact
While urgent repairs to road networks along the Great Northern and Derby highways have started, the greater Kimberley region remains unaffected — including the main towns of Broome and Kununurra.
Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said he had already received reports of tourists cancelling their existing bookings due to the floods.
"We're trying to reach out particularly to Western Australians who hopefully can discern the difference between Fitzroy Crossing and Kununurra, for example," he said.
"Please don't write off the entire Kimberley — go ahead with your plans, maybe alter your plans.
"But please wait and see."
Mr Hall said it was the fourth season in a row that tourism operators in WA's north had faced disruption.
"Tourism businesses often take a double-hit from natural disasters — first from the immediate damage and impact of the floods, and then a second hit from unnecessary cancellations due to misinformation and misconceptions," he said.
Premier Mark McGowan has announced funding through the disaster recovery allowance for businesses impacted by the floods.
"[The allowance] is financial support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the floods," he said.
"The amount for this allowance depends on the number of days and hours that you normally work."
