Five of the 11 caravans promised to cyclone-displaced Mid West residents stuck in Geraldton

About half of the caravans promised to cyclone-displaced residents across the Mid West are stuck in Geraldton, three weeks after the State Government announced the recovery measure.

Of the 11 caravans deployed to the region, five are stationed at the Geraldton-Greenough SES base near the airport.

To date, five have been delivered to residents in the Shire of Northampton and one to Chapman Valley.

When Moore MLA Shane Love asked on Tuesday why some applicants had not received their temporary accommodation, Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby said he could not provide “the exact reason” for the caravans being in Geraldton.

“There are some issues with the caravans in terms of licensing ... If it is an issue of putting a registration on a caravan and getting it on site, then that can be done quite quickly,” he said.

“These caravans are second-hand and were provided on the basis that they could be provided quickly for the people who needed them.”

Mr Love was “staggered” by the response and asked why the caravans were “not fit for purpose”.

“Where in the Minister’s press release does it outline that these caravans would not be fit for use when they were taken to the people in the Shire of Northampton, Shire of Chapman Valley and City of Greater Geraldton? That is staggering,” he said.

A State Government spokesperson said the suggestion there had been “unnecessary delays” in getting the vehicles to applicants was incorrect.

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“DFES has been working with recipients of the remaining five caravans to decide on suitable times for delivery based on residents’ availability and circumstances,” they said.

“Of the five remaining caravans, four will go to the Shire of Northampton and one to the Shire of Morawa in coming days, with the final caravan expected to be delivered on August 17.

“DFES has been personally delivering the caravans and assisting with their set up at the residents’ chosen location.”

The spokesperson said as of August 2, all caravans had been serviced locally in Geraldton, transferred to Government number plates, insured and prepared for families.

All people receiving caravans have had appropriate temporary accommodation during the process.