It has been a year since tropical Cyclone Seroja tore through Western Australia's Midwest and Wheatbelt, but hundreds of residents are still waiting for their homes and businesses to be repaired or rebuilt.
The Category 3 storm damaged more than 2,270 properties across 16 local government areas, impacting a 770-kilometre stretch of coastline from Carnarvon to Mount Marshall.
The popular holiday destination of Kalbarri and the nearby town of Northampton bore the brunt of the cyclone, with about 70 per cent of the towns' buildings damaged or destroyed.
The state government continues to work with thousands of residents from areas impacted by the cyclone, but delays with insurance payments, worker shortages and supply issues are slowing the rebuild.
Andrea and Paul Teakle have found temporary housing in Horrocks, 17km west of Northampton, since the cyclone hit their farm.
They are still waiting for building repairs to begin on their house.
"Our intent is to move back to the farm, however we're not sure if we'll be moving back into the family home," Mrs Teakle said.
She said many residents were frustrated.
"I think it's the fatigue that's really starting to wear them done now [as they ask], 'How much longer, when will I be moving forward?'."
Shortage of workers
Kalbarri builder Phil Crogan has hired more staff in a bid to keep up with local demand.
He says there is so much work that he's had to knock some rebuild projects back.
"That's a hard thing to do, but the workload has been huge," Mr Crogan said.
"Prior to the cyclone I was able to keep a small band of subcontractors and ourselves busy, but we've probably doubled that.
Mr Crogan has seen both the cost of materials and worker pay rates increase by about 30 per cent over the past year.
He said that sate and federal stimulus packages designed to boost the construction industry during the COVID-19 pandemic have added to the pressure.
The state government has implemented several initiatives to entice more builders to the impacted towns, including incentivising apprenticeships and rolling out caravans to the Shires of Mingenew and Perenjori to temporarily house workers.
Livelihoods impacted
For Northampton resident Ian Trevarton, the wait to rebuild has taken too long.
For 17 years he has owned the town's 146-year-old Railway Tavern, which was significantly damaged by the cyclone.
Mr Trevarton has since put the tavern on the market, after his insurance company only offered to cover a third of the $1 million damage bill.
"We're now in the process of selling the pub.
"We've made lots of friends here, but sometimes you've got to move on, start a new chapter."
The Insurance Council of Australia estimates about $350 million in claims have been processed that cite damage from Cyclone Seroja.
As of April 9, it amounted to about 9,300 insurance claims lodged, with about 80 per cent of those now closed.
WA recovery controller Melissa Pexton said of the thousands of residents whose homes were impacted by the cyclone, most were still waiting for building works to start.
She anticipates it could take at least another year before people could return to their homes.
"I always said it's going to be at least a two-year journey," Ms Pexton said.
"We are a year in, and I would anticipate that this particular recovery is going to take an extended period of time."
Recovery funding yet to go out
In July, the state and federal governments announced $104 million in funding for communities impacted by the cyclone. It was the largest disaster recovery package yet in the state's history.
The Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements included grants for insured home owners whose insurance didn't cover the total cost of repairs.
The grant, handled by DFES, has received 328 applications.
But so far, just $33,000 has been given to two approved applicants.
Ms Pexton said building works had to be completed before the payment could be handed out.
However, WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said he was working with the community, through local recovery hubs, to make sure the funding reached people who needed it.
He also indicated he was open to a change in the way money was allocated.
"The way in which the DRFA is set up, where completion of building works is a requirement for reimbursement payments to be authorised, is a matter we are raising with the federal government," he said.
Some homes patched up
For Jenny and Ted McClintock the memory of Cyclone Seroja is still fresh.
The cyclone destroyed their home and tourism accommodation business, 22km south of Kalbarri.
"It was like a bomb had hit. It was total devastation," Ms McClintock said.
The couple has since been able to move back into their home, but work on their accommodation chalets has only just started.
It will likely be another two years before their business returns to normal.
"We're plodding along. Some days are harder when little things pop up," Ms McClintock said.
"But we've got it easy compared to what other people have; at least we've got a roof."
