Exmouth Still Quiet Two Weeks After Cyclone Narelle as WA Unveils $1.45m Business Support Package

Early April in Exmouth is normally buzzing snorkelling tours loading up at dawn, cafés spilling with visitors, and spotter planes sweeping over Ningaloo Reef. But two weeks after Tropical Cyclone Narelle tore through the coastal town more than 1,200 kilometres north of Perth, the streets remain unusually still.

“Town would normally be absolutely heaving now, without a car park anywhere,” said local restaurant owner Jodie Moir, describing the stark contrast to a typical tourism‑heavy autumn.

To help struggling operators, the WA government has announced a $1.45 million support package for businesses hit by the cyclone. Under the scheme:

Small employers with fewer than four staff can apply for one‑off $10,000 payments

Businesses with four or more workers can access up to $20,000

Tourists will be offered 50% discount vouchers on selected tours and experiences along the Coral Coast, from Cervantes to Exmouth

The aim is to revive visitor numbers and ease financial pressure on operators who rely heavily on the region’s peak season.

With Exmouth’s recovery still in its early stages, local businesses hope the support and the return of tourists will help restore the town’s usual vibrancy.