A small community in the Northern Territory has been cut off by crocodile-infested floodwaters for more than two weeks, with locals saying they've been abandoned and having had to hire a helicopter to fly in essentials such as bread, milk, baby formula and nappies.
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Local resident Raine Holcombe took to social media to share publicly what it was like to be left stranded in Timber Creek, about 300km west of Katherine, surrounded by floodwaters, while other communities in the area had been evacuated weeks ago.
"Today is day 16 of being isolated in Timber Creek due to flooding," she said.
"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 were cooked for and accommodated, even dog food for their dogs has been flown in. They have since been returned to their communities.
"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."
Only days ago, Northern Territory Police issues a warning to locals and travellers to stay away from the floodwaters in the Timber Creek region due to the high risk of crocodiles in the area.
Police advised crocodile traps had been placed on the Victoria Highway in a bid to reduce the threat.
In a bid to get supplies to their community, Mrs Holcombe said her partner Tristram, known as Potter, had to "get a helicopter and borrow a friend's car ... all off our own back and at our own expense" to fly to nearby Kununurra in Western Australia to buy food for his hometown.
"We went down the local streets and asked what essentials people needed and Potter did the shopping for 11 families," Mrs Holcombe said.
"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."
In the recent flooding - the second major flood in the Victoria River region in as many years - the Holcombes have lost 90 percent of their fencing, with some of their animals still missing.
"There was no support for us last year and we haven't heard anything this time either," Mrs Holcombe said.
"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."
Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association CEO Will Evans slammed the Government for its inaction in times of need.
"We're still waiting on the NT Government to decide on recovery funding from last year's bushfires," he said.
"There are some who are rightfully feeling like they've been abandoned.
"It's up to the Government to prove that they have not been."
The Government said a plan had since been developed to get supplies to the residents in Timber Creek, with "special consent" given to restock the community store.
Only 12 months ago, Timber Creek residents found themselves in a similar situation.
As flood water gushed through the main street of their community and lapped on the doors of their homes in January 2023, locals huddled together on their outdoor basketball court in the heat and humidity of a tropical wet season and prayed the rising water wouldn't reach them.
In the lead-up to Christmas, ex Tropical Cyclone Ellie had dumped enough rain on the region around the small Northern Territory town of Timber Creek to cause a one-in-50-year flood.
About 140 residents were displaced during the disaster, evacuated first to the Council-owned basketball court, then to the contractor's quarters at the Bradshaw Defence Base.
But the local Council said it was advised at the time that there was only room at the contractor's quarters for 52 people.
The Mayor of the region's Victoria Daly Regional Council made a desperate plea to the Government to re-evaluate the emergency evacuation plan to better deal with flooding and other natural disasters.
Mayor Brian Pedwell said the outdoor basketball court was not an appropriate official emergency evacuation location - especially considering that a significant flood event would inundate it too.
"Our basketball shed, while fine for community events and sporting games, is not a suitable place to keep people safe and well during a disaster," he said.
Annie Hesse
I am an award-winning media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcast, as well as photography and videography. I am the NT Correspondent at Australian Community Media and I write for my hometown newspaper, the Katherine Times. I love telling people's stories, and I am passionate about giving those a voice who may otherwise remain unheard. When I am not busy putting pen to paper, I spend time in my garden, go bushwalking or travel across the Northern Territory, Australia or the world. In my spare time I write, illustrate and publish books.
I am an award-winning media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcast, as well as photography and videography. I am the NT Correspondent at Australian Community Media and I write for my hometown newspaper, the Katherine Times. I love telling people's stories, and I am passionate about giving those a voice who may otherwise remain unheard. When I am not busy putting pen to paper, I spend time in my garden, go bushwalking or travel across the Northern Territory, Australia or the world. In my spare time I write, illustrate and publish books.
