Just days away from their peak season, several of Western Australia’s most popular tourist spots are wrestling with wrecked businesses and a ravaged coastline.
Warning: This article includes images of dead sea life that may be distressing to readers.
In Exmouth, 1,260 kilometres north of Perth, it appears as if ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle has chewed up and spat out whole sections of the Ningaloo Reef onto dry land.
Dead fish and coral have washed up on Exmouth’s shores after ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle. (ABC News: Bridget McArthur)
The World Heritage site was smashed by heavy surf and high winds, as the then-category four system passed overhead on Friday.
“It was honestly heartbreaking, like nothing I’ve really ever seen before,” Exmouth wildlife carer Brinkley Davies said.
A dead dolphin on the beach at Exmouth. (Supplied: Brinkley Davies)
“Walking along the beach is just an absolute graveyard of birds, sea snakes, fish, multiple dead dolphins.”
Ms Davies said she has received more than 100 calls for help, filling her own home with rescued animals with nowhere else to turn.
She said Exmouth was in desperate need of a dedicated wildlife rescue facility that had the capacity to take in marine animals too.Â
‘Huge setback’ for reef
Curtin University coral taxonomist Zoe Richards said the cyclone hit at an especially vulnerable time for the reef, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.
“The way it’s unfolded is the worst-case scenario for the marine life,” she said.
The already-fragile ecosystem was recovering from the worst coral bleaching event in its recorded history, a result of soaring sea temperatures last summer.
Baby turtles have washed since after ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle churned down the coast. (ABC News: Bridget McArthur)
“We’ve got back-to-back impacts from the absolutely devastating heatwave and now a devastating cyclone,” Ms Richards said.
Less visible is the effect on thousands of recently fertilised corals, which spawned just weeks ago.
“There’s a very large risk the intensive swell will have scoured away all the little babies that were trying to settle,” she said.
“This is another huge setback for the reef.”
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle had a devastating impact on the marine life off the coast of Exmouth. (ABC News: Bridget McArthur)
Tourism businesses damaged
For a community already contending with damaged homes and businesses, the long-term environmental consequences of Tropical Cyclone Narelle could drag out their recovery.
In the immediate aftermath, Exmouth remains cut off, with its airport devastated and the sole entry by road closed.
Debra Wright is urging people to visit the town once it has bounced back. (ABC News: Bridget McArthur)
Tour operator Debra Wright said she did not know when her fishing and diving charter might start up again.
“It will mean having to reschedule people because they’re unable to get into town via planes,” she said.
“They’ll have to drive, if they can get fuel.
“When we do get back on our feet, please make the phone call, please come and see us because we will need you because we are a small town that’s very much built on tourism.”
Gale-force winds toppled boats in the Exmouth marina. (ABC News: Bridget McArthur)
Evolution Fishing Charters’ Craig White said the damage in Exmouth was extensive.
“There’s a few boats that have been sunk,” he said.
“There’s power lines down and all the shops have been flooded.”
When asked about his business, Mr White said, “We haven’t got one at the moment”.
“It was the start of the tourist season for everybody in town,” he said.
“Now that’s been put on hold indefinitely. We don’t really know.”Short-term tourism up in the air
At Gnaraloo Station, about 100km north of Carnarvon, owner Paul Richardson is hoping the 300 people who have booked will still come for Easter.
Paul Richardson is still assessing cyclone damage. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
But with the flooding and the fuel issue, he said, “You never know until it happens”.
Mr Richardson said 24 out of 26 cabins around the homestead sustained some sort of damage from the cyclone.
He said it would be hard, but the station would be ready for Easter.
“I’m going to have to do more than my normal 16 hours a day,” Mr Richardson said.
Cabins around the Gnaraloo Station homestead received some damage from Cyclone Narelle. (ABC News: Andrew Chounding)
“I think people that were coming for holidays should probably still try and come.
“Any of these smaller businesses, they would have been hit like me, where they have a lot of damage to pay for and repair.Â
“The thing they don’t need is [for] people not to come.”
There has been a contrast in views on whether tourists should still visit cyclone-affected areas, with one shire urging people to stay away.
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The small town of Gascoyne Junction and surrounding properties were completely isolated from other towns by floodwaters on Sunday, cutting off access to supplies.
How to clean up after a storm or cyclone
Shire tourism officer Ainsley Hardie said visitors were being discouraged from the region until roads were clear and damage mopped up.
“For the time being, if they [visitors] can stay away, while we get ourselves back on track,” she said.Â
“Everybody’s hand on deck, getting life back to normal for us.”
Affected areas include Gascoyne Junction’s pub and tourist park, and the popular Mt Augustus Tourist Park, 430km east of Carnarvon, which Ms Hardie expects will be closed for up to two weeks.
“At the moment, it’s going to be impacting them [tourism operators], especially as we come into Easter and we would be getting ready to greet school-holiday makers,” she said.Â
Ms Hardie said Kennedy Range National Park and its four-wheel drive drawcard, the Kennedy Loop Track, were expected to remain closed for up to six weeks, or until the Gascoyne River level drops.Â
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