Strongest since Cyclone Tracy: massive NT clean-up as Fina moves on

Of the NT’s 153 government schools, 66 were impacted by the cyclone, with 15 closed on Monday.

With top gusts of 195km/h and sustained winds of 140km/h near the centre of the system, Fina levelled trees, damaged houses and in many places across Darwin and surrounding areas cut power.

It also brought torrential rain, with 168.6mm falling at Darwin airport in the 24 hours to 9am Sunday, stirred up a rare swell on Darwin beaches.

The Department of Education and Training has been working with the Power and Water Corporation and service providers to ensure all government schools are open as soon as possible.

The 15 that remain closed are so because they are still undergoing electrical, water supply or structural repairs due to damage sustained during Fina.

The schools closed today are Alawa Primary School, Bees Creek Primary School, Belyuen School, Berry Springs Primary School, Driver Primary School, Dundee Beach School, Howard Springs Primary School, Humpty Doo Primary School, Leanyer Primary School, Middle Point School, Moil Primary School, Nemarluk School, NT School of Distance Education, Taminmin College, and Woodroffe Primary School.

While Finocchiaro said school principals had been asked to assess whether their schools were ready to resume business as usual on Monday, not everyone was happy with the decision to open top end schools.

Commenting on Facebook on Sunday, one union rep said most teachers and families of Territory students had been greatly impacted by the cyclone and many in Darwin, the Northern suburbs and the Palmerston region remained without power.

“There are still trees upended and unstable, and the cleanup has not really begun, with tips being still closed. Our teachers have families and responsibilities to attend to ensure their families are also safe,” she said.

“Many principals have been on call all weekend, dealing with cyclone shelters and damage to schools, but are expected to go back tomorrow and its business as usual.

“Further, they have had to attend their schools today to run a safety check to evaluate if their school is safe, which I am pretty sure is not their job!”

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Jonathon How said the tropical cyclone will gradually weaken into today, before it crosses the northern Kimberley coast later this evening. PHOTO: BOM supplied

The closure of some schools and not others causes more issues because teachers and school staff have to choose between their families wellbeing or their work responsibilities, the union rep explained.

“I strongly urge the NT government to act on this appalling decision immediately and show some compassion for teachers. Teachers are not babysitters and there is no justification to open schools tomorrow (Monday).”

As a category three system, Fina passed between the Tiwi Islands and Darwin at the weekend, packing destructive winds and heavy rain.

Tiwi College’s grounds and boarding accommodations in Pickataramoor on Melville Island were damaged, however, the school said in a statement online that early preparations had prevented more potential destruction.

“Tiwi College is looking a bit sad, and sorry for itself after Fina came to visit us today, but we forgive her,” the online statement read.

“Due to great preparations there is not much damage to buildings and all staff and families are safe and happy.”

Authorities toiled through Sunday night and restored power to 5000 homes and businesses, but around 14,000 were still without power on Monday morning.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro acknowledged there was much work to be done to get Territorians back to normal life.

“When you look at the outage map, it is widespread, there are people who will be waking up this morning coming out of their second night with no power, and that has a huge impact,” she told Channel Seven.

“We’ve had destructive winds, mass power outages and there’s a big, big clean-up job to come.”

A power team will be sent to the Tiwi Islands now it is safe to do so, Finocchiaro said.

The cyclone strengthened into Monday, in open waters above the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, producing sustained winds of up to 185km/h, with gusts of up to 260km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Jonathon How said the tropical cyclone was expected to gradually weaken by Monday afternoon, before it crossed the northern Kimberley coast later in the evening.

It was then likely to continue weakening.

Overnight rain totals were not as large as previous days as the cyclone was over open water.

Darwin had recorded 157mm of rain at the airport since 9am on Saturday, while Middle Point, southwest of the city, copped 393mm.

There were no reports of serious injuries or significant property damage on Sunday.

The BOM has a warning zone in place from Wadeye to Dundee Beach in the Northern Territory and the NT/WA border to Troughton Island, including Kalumburu in WA.

Gales with damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h were likely about coastal areas between Dundee Beach and Daly River Mouth extending to Wadeye if Fina takes a more southerly track.

They could hit parts of the northeast Kimberley coast from Monday morning between King George River Mouth and the WA/NT border and extend west to Troughton Island, including Kalumburu, overnight on Monday into Tuesday.

The bureau is warning of heavy to intense rainfall which could lead to flash flooding about coastal areas between Dundee Beach and the Daly River Mouth, possibly extending south to Wadeye.

The NT Emergency Service advises people from Dundee Beach to Daly River Mouth to remain sheltered in a safe place and to secure boats, outdoor furniture and playground items.

(with AAP)