Punmu's Food Crisis: Road Repairs Stall

0:00It's April 8th, Sydney News. Today starts now, AI powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Remote Aboriginal community of Punmu in Western Australia is staring down a food crisis with just six weeks of supplies left. Trucks can reach the place because the only road in is wrecked from cyclones and no drivers willing to risk it. This spot sits 1,300 kilometers northeast of Perth, fully dependent on those big deliveries every few months. The road's been a nightmare for years, but Cyclone Zelia last year made it way worse, cracking axles and ripping wheels off vehicles. Punmu's coordinator, Edith Costello, says without quick fixes, folks might have to pack up and head to bigger towns like Port Headland or Newman. It's their lifeline, and right now, it's clogged. These are two people hold on to traditional ways here, away from city troubles like alcohol and violence. They were among the last indigenous groups to connect with outsiders, and spots like Punmu got built in the 1980s for cultural continuity, losing it would hit hard, forcing a heartbreaking

1:03shift. The Shire of East Pilbara snagged $5.6 million dollars early this year for repairs, and the state government's kicking in up to 17.9 million more. But Costello worries is not enough for a full rebuild, and she hasn't seen crews moving yet. Shire leaders say they're planning and mobilizing as fast as they can with the remote access issues. Greens MP Sophie McNeil is calling out the governments for dragging feet, saying this two-tier road system leaves indigenous spots stranded while. Mining routes get paved. Federal funds are flowing over the next few years, but Punmu needs action now to stay alive on that land.