Timber Creek flooding: Food trucks not expected to roll into town until Saturday

The Chief Minister’s explanation for failing to provide food to stranded Timber Creek residents has raised further questions. Meanwhile, much-needed food deliveries are still days away.

Timber Creek residents will have to wait until Saturday for food to arrive, as evidence mounts that the Territory Government either forgot or missed the supplies shortage crisis in the township.

Pastoralist Tristram Holcombe was this week forced to hire a chopper and then borrow a mate’s ute to collect provisions in Kununurra for Timber Creek residents.

Government members from the Chief Minister Eva Lawler down have taken to social media to try and explain how it was that the flood-marooned town ran out of food and other provisions.

Not only did the government declare a state of emergency for the region when floodwaters struck in mid-January, but a Facebook update from Raine Holcombe – Tristram’s wife – on Monday predicted the looming crisis.

“The water is still here (dropping very slowly), the roads are still cut and it’s still raining,” she wrote.

“It has now been 13 days since the roads closed so we are all getting very low on supplies.”

Pastoralist Tristram Holcombe during the Timber Creek floods.

In response to Raine’s now viral mercy dash Facebook post, Ms Lawler told the NT News that as soon as they “became aware” of the limited food availability in Timber Creek, they “mobilised a plan to get supplies to residents”.

“To make sure Timber Creek residents are supported, the government has had discussions with (the) Timber Creek store owner, and we will be overseeing restocking of the store, with special consent given for road freight to travel to Timber Creek,” she said.

The government later advised that the first supplies would be expected to arrive in Timber Creek on Saturday, February 3.

A respondent to Ms Lawler’s post called out the government’s failure to act.

“ … Are you suggesting the government was not aware of the situation along the (Victoria) Highway? I find that difficult to believe when (evacuations) are co-ordinated by Govt services,” they wrote.

Mr Holcombe also posted a comment in agreement.

“Exactly, and as it was declared an emergency some time ago, I am fairly sure that only a minister can declare such a thing.”

Daly MLA Dheran Young, whose electorate includes Timber Creek, also responded to Raine’s post.

“I’ve just seen your post. Can you send me a private message with your number and I’ll give you a buzz.”

Deputy Chief Minister Chansey Paech also responded.

Meanwhile, Katherine MLA Jo Hersey took a swipe at the government.

“Residents and pastoralists in Timber Creek and the Vic River district are crying out for support and deserve better from Eva Lawler and this Labor government,” she said.

The office of Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour sent the NT News a link where Timber Creek residents could apply for government assistance.

‘Disgusted’: Cattleman makes mercy dash as flood response slammed

January 31: More than a fortnight since the Victoria Highway closed due to flooding, a Timber Creek resident has been forced to make a mercy dash to Kununurra for baby food and other provisions.

Stock Musterer and pastoralist Tristram (Potter) Holcombe flew a hired helicopter to Auvergne Station where he borrowed a mate’s ute to drive to Kununurra, before flying back two chopper loads of stores for about a dozen families in the town.

Victoria Highway, the town’s main thoroughfare, remains closed according to NTG.

Tristram’s wife Raine posted on social media that “not once” since flooding began in early January had town residents been offered assistance or supplies.

“Today is day 16 of being isolated in Timber Creek due to flooding,” Ms Holcombe wrote. “The Victoria Highway in both directions has closed and will still be several days before it’s open to the east and possibly longer to the west.

“In those 16 days, local surrounding communities were evacuated, some flown out, some camped at the school.

“They (community residents) were cooked for and accommodated, even dog food for their dogs has been flown in. They have since been returned to their communities.

Tristram (Potter) Holcombe leaves the chartered chopper with provisions for Timber Creek.

“Not once in those 16 days have the townspeople of Timber Creek been offered any assistance or supplies. Our small local supermarket closed down on the first day of the floods and the roadhouse has not been able to receive supplies.

“Yesterday Potter returned from a trip to Kununurra with supplies where he had to get a helicopter and borrow a friends car … all off our own back and our at our own expense.

“We went down the local streets and asked what essentials people needed and Potter did the shopping for 11 families. Most of the items were simple essentials such as bread, milk, baby formula and nappies.

“As a town, we are disgusted at the fact that there has been absolutely no assistance for us and there is still no word of anything while we continue to wait patiently for the roads to open.

“On a personal level, Potter and I have lost 90 per cent of our fencing in the floods, this is the second year in a row. There was no support for us last year and we haven’t heard anything this time either.

There’s still an estimated 4km stretch of Victoria Highway under water.

“Due to the loss of our fences, our cattle and horses have not been fully accounted for, potentially they are along the highway or further afield. Our friends upstream at Coolibah Station and Vic River Roadhouse are in a similar situation but with bigger losses and still no support.

“Once again – ashamed of our government.”

NT Cattlemen’s Association chief executive Will Evans backed the Holcombe’s and Timber Creek.

“We’re in close contact with pastoralists in the region who are doing their best to look after their staff and cattle during what has become a record-breaking flood,” Mr Evans said.

“It’s concerning that government appears to have no awareness at all that they’re flying over the top of some people, who they are offering no help to whatsoever, and in order to provide help to others.

Will Evans is the chief executive of the NT Cattlemen's Association.

“There are some who are rightfully feeling like they’ve been abandoned. It’s up to government to prove that they have not been.

“Twenty-four hours after cyclone Kirrily hit Townsville, the Queensland and Federal Government had support packages ready to go. We’re still waiting on the NT Government to decide on recovery funding from last year’s bushfires.

“The rate we’re going, we’re going to be spending more time in meetings with bureaucrats to talk about disasters, than what is going to be provided to the people who are victims of the actual disaster. Something desperately needs to change.”

The social media post was forwarded to Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Katherine MLA Jo Hersey, Daly MLA Dheran Young, the NT Cattlemen’s Association and media.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler admitted the government scrambled for a response when it “became aware” of food shortages.

“As soon as we became aware of the limited food availability in Timber Creek we mobilised a plan to get supplies to these residents,” Ms Lawler said.

“To make sure Timber Creek residents are supported, the government has had discussions with [the] Timber Creek store owner and we will be facilitating the restocking of the store, with special consent given for road freight to travel to Timber Creek.”

A spokesman for Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour said Timber Creek residents are available for federal and NT disaster relief

Originally published as Timber Creek flooding: Food trucks not expected to roll into town until Saturday