Help at hand in fire aftermath
Jobs, aid for victims of tragic blaze
GOLD Coast businesses are making room for workers of the destroyed Binna Burra Lodge as the tight-knit community tries to move forward from the Sarabah bushfire tragedy.
The Novotel Group says it will interview every qualified Binna Burra staff member put out of work by the fires, while O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat has already offered one worker a job.
A workers transition meeting was held yesterday in Beechmont to help find jobs for the 70 staff and to provide information about grants and funding.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a $1.2 million partnership with the O’Reilly family to deliver a major redevelopment of the Green Mountain campground at Lamington National Park in hopes of boosting tourism to the area.
The Government will also provide more than $1,480,000 to partner with Binna Burra Lodge and build Australia’s first permanent cliff climbing course called the “Via Ferrata”.
Binna Burra Lodge was one of 11 buildings lost to bushfires that have so far claimed 6000ha of bushland.
A GoFundMe page set-up by volunteer group Friends of Binna Burra has already raised more than $70,000 to rebuild the gutted 86-year-old lodge.
Former Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has been appointed to take charge of the state’s bushfire recovery.
Mr Stewart was the state disaster co-ordinator during Cyclone Yasi and the 2011 floods.
“The Government has been quick to respond, processing $351,000 in assistance to 1900 people so far in addition to funding recovery for the tourism industry,” Mr Stewart said.
“This will be a long road but no one will be left to face it alone.”
He will be assisted by Acting Senior Sergeant Darren Ward who was involved in evacuating residents from Timbarra Drive in Beechmont.
A heavy firefighter presence remains around Lamington National Park where a fire continues to burn, but it is not endangering any properties.
A QFES spokesman said Tuesday night rainfall helped firefighters tame the blaze.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jess Gardiner said the Gold Coast Hinterland received the highest rainfall.
The gauge at Foxley, which is near Lamington National Park, measured 16mm of rain.
Canungra received about 9mm while Binna Burra had 3mm.
“In many places through the Gold Coast the rain fell up to 10mm,” Ms Gardiner said.
“There were hundreds of clouds to ground lightning strikes. (Today) there is a chance of seeing isolated thunderstorms, though they are not expected to be major.”