Floods close WA interstate rail, roads

Western Australia is on the cusp of being cut off from the rest of the nation again due to flooding in northern, southern and central parts of the state impacting every interstate road.

The Great Northern Highway and Gibb River Road in the Kimberley have both been shut due to heavy wet season rains.

The Leonora–Laverton Road, which links the Great Central Road into WA, has also been closed due to flooding in the Goldfields.

WA's only interstate rail line, which carries substantial freight and services the Indian Pacific tourism train, is expected to be closed until at least Saturday.

A note from Indian Pacific operator Journey Beyond Rail said the rail line had been impacted by severe weather.

The Eyre Highway remains open for now, but heavy rains have led Main Roads to caution drivers against using the route due to heavy flooding between Balladonia and Madura.

The unsealed Tanami Road is also closed due to flooding.

Kununurra Airport has recorded about 275 millimetres of rain so far in March, and Lake Argyle has risen to four metres above the spillway.

About 70mm of rain has fallen in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Further south-east, Eyre weather station has been inundated with about 200mm this month.

A Department of Fire and Emergency Services storm warning remains active over the Eyre Highway and Great Central Road due to a near-stationary trough over the Goldfields, which is expected to remain in place until Wednesday.

Warnings to sent out to the WA transport industry to prepare for freight disruptions on the weekend.

It comes weeks after the Eyre Highway was closed for four days due to a bushfire.

“Defence strategists and planners should be noting with deep concern that now in times of peace, our transnational freight routes are already vulnerable and barely fit for purpose,” Western Roads Federation chief executive Cam Dumesny said.

Sealing of the Great Central Road is under way, albeit at a slow pace, and funding has also been earmarked to seal the Tanami Road.

National freight rail operator Pacific National has been contacted for comment.