Funding relief on the cards for town

The destruction to the Pilbara town of Karratha caused by tropical cyclone Damien is predicted to be severe enough to qualify for an emergency funding grant.

The City of Karratha said it would take weeks to determine the actual cost of the damage from the category three system that caused widespread flooding, uprooted trees and destroyed buildings.

During a visit to the Pilbara last week, Emergency Services Minister Fran Logan said the City would likely be eligible for a Disaster Recovery Funding grant, meaning damages would total at least $240,000.

Mr Logan said TC Damien was the most powerful system to cross the region since tropical cyclone Olivia in 1996.

“The Disaster Recovery Fund is established between State and Federal Government, and the minimum damage that invokes the fund is $240,000,” he said.

“I haven’t spoken to Mayor Long about the extent of the damage ... but from what I’ve seen, it’s beyond that $240,000.”

During his visit, Minister Logan thanked the emergency service personnel for their tireless efforts during the cyclone and in the clean-up process.

Mr Logan also praised the work by utility groups saying it was remarkable that 13,500 homes were reconnected to power “in a number of hours.”

City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long said they were still assessing the extent of the damage to the town, and communities near Karratha and the broader region caused by Damien.