Gascoyne travellers urged to slow down after heavy rainfall causes road flooding in shire of Carnarvon

Road users in the Gascoyne have been urged to slow down and drive to conditions after vehicles were observed crossing flooded roads at speed in the shire of Carnarvon. The Bureau of Meterology issued a flood watch for parts of the Gascoyne coast on Monday, warning flooding to river catchments could spill onto local roads. Carnarvon SES received four requests for help in the Gascoyne region on Monday, all in Carnarvon. Three of the call-outs were requests for sandbags due to minor flooding, while the fourth related to a leaking ceiling. Heavy rain caused water to run on main highways and forced the closure of local roads. Roads in North Plantations, including Bibbawarra Rd, were affected. Shire of Carnarvon, Shire of Shark Bay and Upper Gascoyne community emergency services manager Michael Antony said it was frustrating road users were not slowing down to conditions. “Common sense has got to kick in. Some of these roads were submerged in a foot and a half of water and people weren’t slowing down,” he said. “Drive to conditions, we want you to get to where you are going safely.” Carnarvon police OIC Sen Sgt. Paul Tolan said hitting water at high speed could cause a crash and reminded people to be cautious in the wet weather. “It’s just around driving to the road conditions. There was water across the road in a lot of areas on the main highways and around town. It’s about being diligent and driving to road conditions,” he said. Shire president Eddie Smith said his rain gauge measured 36mm from the Monday downpour.