Residents across Far North Queensland are facing a significant clean-up effort following the passage of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. The powerful storm system, which initially made landfall as a severe Category 4 cyclone on the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula, has now moved into the Northern Territory, weakening to a tropical low.
The cyclone’s journey began on Friday morning, crossing the coast between Lockhart River and Coen as a formidable Category 4 system. It then tracked westward, skirting south of Weipa, and experienced a gradual reduction in intensity to Category 2. However, overnight, the system reignited its ferocity over the Gulf of Carpentaria, strengthening to a Category 3 before making landfall in the Northern Territory early Sunday morning. Since then, it has continued to lose strength.
Impact on Remote Communities
The remote community of Lockhart River bore the brunt of the cyclone’s initial impact. Residents were left without power, and the landscape was littered with debris. Mayor Wayne Butcher expressed the community’s urgent need for government funding for a purpose-built disaster shelter, a facility currently lacking in Cape York despite the presence of “places of refuge.”
“I think we’ve got the whole week… about six or seven days’ worth of cleaning up still,” Cr Butcher stated, highlighting the scale of the recovery effort. He identified power restoration as the community’s most pressing concern. Clearing fallen trees, including a large mango tree that brought down powerlines, proved to be a day-long task for local crews.
On the western side of Cape York, the Aurukun Shire Council reported significant disruption. Corporate services manager Lyndon Keane described how the cyclone “hit reasonably hard” and that the community experienced a “substantial eye.” The aftermath has been particularly challenging given the high humidity and temperatures, with many homes lacking essential cooling systems.
“It’s western Cape York in March, so it’s about 95 per cent humidity and 33 degrees at the moment, so you can imagine how unpleasant it is in some of the houses with no fans or air conditioning,” Mr Keane explained.
Communications were also severely impacted, leaving residents unable to inform loved ones of their safety. “The biggest issue for the community is connectivity in terms of people not being able to let their loved ones and other family and friends across the cape and further afield know that they’re safe and well,” he added.
Structural damage in Aurukun was relatively minor, primarily affecting a foreshore barbecue shelter that was struck by a falling gum tree. While some fences were damaged, the community was fortunate that houses and roofs remained largely intact.
Power and Communications Outages
Across Cape York, the cyclone’s impact has left a significant number of homes without power. Approximately 450 residences are still affected, and Telstra has reported four mobile sites down in the region. Telstra’s regional manager, Rachel Cliffe, assured that crews are working “around the clock” to restore services, with eight sites already brought back online on Saturday.
“Our sleeves are well and truly [rolled] up… staying connected matters more than ever and we know any loss of service is difficult, especially in remote areas,” Ms Cliffe commented.
Weather Outlook and Flood Warnings
The Bureau of Meteorology indicated that more settled conditions were expected across the cape on Sunday, although some rainfall was still anticipated. Forecaster Jonathan How advised that any further rain would contribute to already swollen rivers and creeks. The heaviest falls were predicted for the west coast of the cape, with amounts ranging from 10 to 20 millimetres, and isolated falls of up to 30mm. A Flood Watch warning remains in effect for the cape and parts of the North Tropical Coast.
Meanwhile, in Cairns, Baron Gorge Road has been closed due to rockfalls, attributed to heavy rainfall preceding the cyclone. Council spokespeople noted that the challenging terrain and the ongoing risk of further slips are hindering assessment and repair efforts.
Experiences in Aurukun
The intensity of Tropical Cyclone Narelle was palpable in Aurukun, with contractor Steven Keys describing the sound as akin to “a jet engine with afterburners.” He acknowledged that the damage could have been far worse, with electrical infrastructure being the primary casualty.
Andrew Clarkson, a former police officer with three decades of experience in Aurukun, corroborated the severe wind impact. “From what I’m hearing, they got a real whipping from the strong winds… they said it just roared,” he reported.
The APN Cape York organisation is assessing the impact on nearby homelands, including Blue Lagoon, a site used for cultural camps. Access to these remote locations is often limited to helicopter during the wet season, meaning assessments will likely be delayed until conditions improve. APN Cape York is coordinating with Aurukun Shire Council to support clean-up initiatives.
Business and Infrastructure Impact
Businesses have also felt the effects. Jayson Watkin and Katie Goodwin of The Temple Cape York, accustomed to cyclones, described extensive damage. “It’s a category five cyclone… plenty of damage,” Mr Watkin stated, detailing lost guttering, sections of shed roofing, and numerous fallen trees. A significant treefall even took out their power service pole, requiring an hour with a chainsaw just to exit their home.
Further north, in Weipa, the Carpentaria Golf Club experienced significant damage. Strong winds ripped off the club’s electrical board and felled numerous trees. President Len McKinley indicated that the course, which sustained “bigger winds and rain” than anticipated, may not reopen for a month or more due to downed powerlines and trees obstructing the course.
The cyclone’s trajectory continued towards Western Australia, where it was expected to dissipate further as a tropical low.
