Flood-hit Aussies Try to Restore Food Supplies

Flood-hit NT communities taking desperate measures to restore food supplies. Sustained, soaking rainfalls across Central Australia this set dry rivers and creeks flowing and greened the red country. According to the Bureau of Meterology, Alice Springs experienced its wettest ever start to the year.

But the heavy rain has also wreaked havoc, stalling services to remote communities and leaving flood damage in its wake. A truck carrying supplies to the community store at Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) south-east of Alice Springs was pulled out of a spectacular bog on Friday morning after getting stuck the day before.

Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC) chief executive Ellie Kamara said the community had been calling for food to be airdropped after not receiving a delivery for two weeks.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the rain over central Australia in January was brought by former tropical cyclone Tiffany as it moved south. As a result, falls across the state last month were 175 per cent above average with SA recording its fourth-wettest January on record and its wettest since 1984. Fourteen regions in South Australia’s north will be provided with financial assistance to help with the recovery from recent floods. The outback drenching made the Stuart Highway, the main road link between Adelaide and Darwin, impassable.

Plea for Airdrops

Foodbank provides stock to more than 50 charities, community groups and schools in Central Australia. Chief executive Greg Pattinson said the Alice Springs branch only had enough food until “maybe” Monday, after supplies were bolstered by a donation from the local Coles supermarket. “The problem is, all our food is in Adelaide at the moment and in order to get the right range and the volume of food that we need in Alice Springs, we need the transport from Adelaide right now,” Mr Pattinson said.

Mr Pattinson said the NT government’s refusal to ask the Federal government to airlift food to replenish Foodbank’s stocks reflected a misunderstanding about how the organisation operated. “It does show that there is a clear lack of understanding, or a lack of awareness between food that’s going to the retail sector and the community stores, versus food that is required for food relief activities.” Freight started to flow through the flooded section on Monday but it could be until next week before the highway is open to all traffic. The Australian Rail Track Corporation said the trans-Australian railway was expected to reopen on February 15 after repairs to 18 sections of track across 300 kilometres of line.

Opinion Piece

As stated many times on our blog, now is the time for communities to become more and more self sufficient. Back in September 2020, we highlighted the need for a return to Victory Gardens in Australia. The Canadian Truckers driving to the capital of Ottawa to honk there horns and shout ‘freedom’ will do nothing but make them an easy target as “the fall guys” when food and deliveries start becoming delayed and people grow hungry. We trust our fellow Aussies and trucking communities will continue to work together now and into the future. Without Trucks, Australia stops.