East Kimberley businesses call for expansion of government freight subsidies as their flood lockdown continues

Businesses in the Kimberley that depend on Western Australia's severely flood-damaged road network have called for expanded access to government freight subsidies as they manage the surge transport costs.

The East Kimberley business community is appealing to the Western Australian Government to expand access to freight subsidiesAt present, only items deemed essential have been seen offer grants State government says it is working on a response to help primary producers directly and indirectly affected by the floods

Flood damage to The Great Northern Highway has cut the East Kimberley from the rest of the state, with carriers required to truck goods through the Northern Territory and South Australia to access the southern region.

He has left the community - largely fueled by the agricultural and tourism industries - struggling with doubled freight rates, with only items deemed essential eligible for existing subsidies.

The Chamber of Commerce and of Industry in East Kimberley is lobbying the Western Australian Government to expand the scope of its subsidy scheme, to cover all freight in and out of the region.

"It's not just essential services that are affected, it's retail, it's tourism, it's agriculture and livestock, it's construction and trades, and it's having a real ripple effect on that region," chamber chief executive Clare Smith said.

"It's completely unprecedented. There is no way for companies or farmers to prepare for something as big as this. And it's just going to have a huge impact without government assistance."

Drivers make huge round trip to help flood-affected communities. (Google Maps)

Russell Cooke and his family run several businesses out of Kununurra, including a livestock supplement business.

He depends on the Great Northern Highway to access 50% of the supplies needed. ires to its product line, and 25 per cent of its customers.

With access to its WA suppliers cut off, it has had to scramble to find new sources for its components from products - such as salt, canola meal and lupins - from across the country.

He was also forced to find alternative transportation routes to supply customers long term based in the Pilbara and West Kimberley which comes at a cost.

Sophie and Russell Cooke run a range of farming ventures in Kununurra.(Suppl ied: Red Range Stock Supplements)

"He is affected ...