Hundreds of freight trucks arrive in the East Kimberley following opening of low-level Fitzroy River crossing

Freight prices are set to return to pre-flood levels now that the low-level crossing over the Fitzroy River has opened to heavy vehicles four months after flooding destroyed the bridge. Hundreds of trucks rumbled over the Fitzroy River’s low-level crossing in the first week it opened to heavy freight vehicles. Dean Wilson Transport operations manager Danny Hannaford said they were “over the moon and elated to resume our services.” “We have 16 staff here (in Broome) and the road closure made it very challenging. But it’s fantastic to be back to normal.” He said now that the East Kimberley was once again connected to the rest of the state by sealed road, “the freight is flowing in.” “There are massive movements of freight,” he said The Great Northern Highway was severed in January when ex-tropical cyclone Ellie dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain on the Central Kimberley destroying cattle stations, homes and the Fitzroy River Bridge. Freight which usually came to the East Kimberley from Perth via Broome had to take on a huge detour via South Australia and the Northern Territory. The new route added an extra 2000km to a one-way trip from Perth to Kununurra causing the cost of freight to double, if not triple, for customers. Mr Hannaford said Dean Wilson Transport trucks had been using the low-level crossing since April 28. “They made a special lay down area at Fitzroy Crossing so the trucks can break up and take one trailer at a time.” The two major freight operators to service the East Kimberley, Bishop’s Transport and Centurion, also said their freight prices would remain at pre-flood levels. Perth business Bishop’s Transport was one of the few trucking companies to continue servicing East Kimberley businesses after the Fitzroy River Bridge was destroyed. They had 500 consignments a week travel the 10,600km round trip, the equivalent of travelling from the English Channel to Vladivostok in Russia. Bishop’s Transport commercial manager James Robinson said they were monitoring the delays at the low-level crossing but they were hoping it would be, “something we can wear.” “Our commitment is pre-flood prices. “ The low-level crossing will be open for heavy vehicles for the dry season, but, once the river rises again in the wet, the road trains will have to return to the long way round. Bishop’s Transport is working with the Federal Government to receive financial assistance so that freight costs don’t skyrocket for their customers once again. “We are still negotiating with the Government to put a system in place for the next wet season where Bishops will manage the extra cost with the Government and only charge the customers baseline rates with no deviation levy,” he said. Major freight supplier Centurion aims to also keep freight costs at pre-flood levels next wet season with the assistance of a Government subsidy. The new bridge is due to open at the end of 2024. A second low-level crossing will open later this month to all vehicles, including road trains and pedestrians.