WA cut off from the eastern states as of tonight
WA’s major supply routes are currently closed due to fires and a cyclone.
Dozens of trucks have been stuck at various roadhouses and locations along the Eyre Highway for several days, but were allowed to travel on bush fire affected roads to Norseman today. Currently the WA-SA border is closed as is the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway and the Eyre Highway between Norseman and Caiguna.
There are also major road closures in the north due to tropical cyclone Blake and flooding.
Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny told Jo McManus the closures are unprecedented and will have ongoing impacts on produce and supplies.
“Effective as of 6pm tonight, WA will have no road links to the eastern states.
“The Eyre Highway has now been closed for six days. That is absolutely unprecedented to have a major arterial supply line between two Australian capitals closed for so long. You are now seeing the impacts flowing into the state.”
Mr Dumesny is says this exposes how vulnerable WA is with only two sealed roads connecting the state to the east.
“We need to get the Great Central road sealed between here and Laverton and Alice Springs and we need the Tanami [road] sealed.
“We need more agility in our supply chains.”
Download this podcast here