Property and environmental damage

Destructive winds caused severe damage to plant nurseries on the Atherton Tablelands.
Approximately 90 per cent of Australia’s commercial banana crop is grown in Cyclone Larry affected areas. The Australian Banana Growers Council estimates that $298.4m worth of crop losses were caused by the cyclone. In some areas 95 per cent of crops were lost.
The sugar industry suffered direct damage to crops as well as considerable damage to harvest equipment, as demonstrated by this cane train near Silkwood.
Iconic trees like this Innisfail fig tree were uprooted, leaving fallen powerlines, environmental damage and a huge cleanup task in their wake.
Local parks and hotels were left in ruins, contributing to a lack of recreation facilities and temporary accommodation for displaced families, tradespeople and recovery workers.
Tropical fruit, like this Palmerston papaya plantation, and tree crops were severely impacted by Cyclone Larry. Some of these growers face recovery periods of up to 12 years for mangosteen and macadamia nut trees.

Last updated: 23 June 2008.