A massive flood in South Australia has impacted rail freight deliveries, forcing supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles to introduce purchase limits on multiple products in Western Australia.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation this week said parts of the network between Adelaide and Tarcoola were flooded and rail operations had stopped.
On Thursday, Woolworths announced a two pack purchase limit on flour, sugar, rice, pasta, eggs, paper towels, frozen fruit, frozen vegetables and frozen chips in WA.
Woolworths has already had product limits on toilet paper and pain killers nationwide since mid-January.
Coles has also imposed purchase limits in WA.
Shoppers can now only buy two packs of rice, pasta, sugar, flour, paper towels, tissues, medicine such as paracetamol and aspirin, sausages, and chicken thighs and breasts from the meat department.
A limit of six chicken breasts and chicken thighs apply for the deli department, while customers can only purchase one pack of toilet paper and rapid antigen tests.
Woolworths said it was working with its trucking carrier partners to send freight to WA but there was a reduction in load capacity compared to rail.
“The loss of the key freight link from the east will regrettably have an impact on product availability in our stores over the next little while,” Woolworths WA general manager Karl Weber said in a statement.
“We’ve placed temporary purchase limits on selected categories to help ensure more customers have access to essential products while we work through the disruption.
“More than xjmtzyw80 per cent of our fresh fruit and vegetable range is sourced from growers within WA, so we expect that part of the store will hold up reasonably well.
“We also source a large volume of our milk, dairy and meat locally.”
Mr Weber urged customers to be mindful of others and only buy what they needed.
“Please continue to be respectful to our team members who are doing their very best to ensure the products you need are available,” he said.
A Coles spokesperson said fortunately most fresh produce — including milk, meat, fruit and vegetables — were grown or produced locally.
“However, there are some products that cannot be produced in WA that retailers must transport from the eastern states,” they said.
“We are continuing to review our stock levels and are working hard to get products through the network as quickly as possible, and all options are being considered — road, rail, air and marine freight.
“We have a large cross-functional team that is working on our response to the current disruption to supply in Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory due to flood damaged road and rail routes.”
The spokesperson said Coles was also working with state and federal governments, as well as third-party business partners and suppliers.
“This is going to be a challenging time and we encourage our customers to be flexible if the products they would usually buy are not available,” they said.
“We thank our customers for continuing to treat our team members with kindness and respect and ask that they only purchase what they need.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted the issue had exposed a significant vulnerability.
“We’ll work through all these issues, particularly with the (WA) Premier (and) the South Australian Premier as well,” he told 6PR radio on Thursday.
“(Deputy Prime Minister) Barnaby Joyce just flew straight into gear on attacking this challenge and working with both premiers, and we’re getting through it, and we’ve made some changes to regulations around trucks and licences and things like this.
“That means things can keep flying, but it’s going to take a little while to restore that line and I think people understand that.
“But it does highlight those vulnerabilities.”
WA Premier Mark McGowan on Wednesday urged people not to panic buy after shelves were left empty in supermarkets.
“I just urge people not to panic buy. Make sure you only use what you need,” he said.
“We’re doing everything we can, in conjunction with the Commonwealth government, to get as many supplies in place.”
Mr McGowan said the disruption was expected to last a few weeks.
“Floods and cyclones are part of the Australian environment, and obviously this was not really something foreseeable considering it’s apparently a one in 200-year event,” he said.
