EMERGING FROM THE ASHES
ALMOST a year after it was destroyed by bushfire, ecotourism destination favourite Binna Burra Lodge will finally reopen on Tuesday – and it was never in doubt.
“I always knew we’d get there; get Binna Burra back on its feet,” Lodge chairman Steve Noakes said. The only road in and out had been blocked for six months, making the clean-up and rebuild more challenging.
BELOVED hinterland ecotourism destination Binna Burra Lodge will reopen on Tuesday almost a year after it was destroyed by bushfire.
While a bare block on the hilltop once home to the historic lodge and cabins is a poignant reminder of the devastation dealt by the 2019 blaze, Binna Burra Lodge chairman Steve Noakes said the road had reopened and they were ready to welcome tourists.
“I always knew we’d get there; get Binna Burra back on its feet,” he said.
“I was hoping we’d get there earlier than we did, but the big challenge was road access. It’s a cliffside road and there were a lot of technical difficulties.
“It was only the past four or five months we’ve been able to get in for the demolition, clean-up and repairs.”
Eighteen Sky Lodges, offering one, two and threebedroom eco-friendly apartments and studios with captivating views across the Coomera and Numinbah valleys, spa baths and fireplaces, will be the first to open.
The last significant heritage timber structure left after the fires, Groom’s Cottage, will also open as a new heritage hub, home to Bushwalker’s Bar serving meals and drinks.
“Bookings are very strong,” Mr Noakes said.
“The Sky Lodges are filling up fast, especially on the weekends, but there are weekdays available.”
On September 8, the anniversary of the day an unseasonal blaze swept through parched rainforest destroying some buildings and miraculously sparing others, a bushfire gallery will open.
“It’s in one of the surviving buildings called The Barn,” said Mr Noakes, who guided Prime Minister Scott Morrison on a heart-rending tour of the rubble later that week.
“There’ll be a collection of photos from the fire. It’ll be a time for reflection on what happened and what we’ve been through.”
The campground and teahouse are scheduled to return on September 14, but Lamington National Park, which Mr Noakes describes as Binna Burra’s real asset, is leading the race to recovery.
“It’s recovered well, very well. After a year of no human beings, we’ve got these big, fat, lazy pythons and dingo families that’ll go back into the bush when people arrive – they are very timid.”
While the bush is bouncing back and holiday-makers have their bags packed, Binna
Burra’s many stakeholders won’t so easily erase the scars of what Mr Noakes describes as an unprecedented event.
“As I look out the window now, there’s a bushfire on the western side of Springbrook.
“I’m not so much nervous as hyper alert to the potential for bushfires. Controlled burn or uncontrolled burn it’s still burning.
“What happened last year was unprecedented in white man’s history, but conditions are very different at Binna Burra this year. We’ve had reasonable winter rains and more forecast this week.
“I’m not overly concerned this year but we still need to be vigilant and cautious.”
I ALWAYS KNEW WE’D GET THERE; GET BINNA BURRA BACK ON ITS FEET
STEVE NOAKES
THEY are small but important wins in a sea of grim news.
Well done Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show for putting on a smaller interim festival in the wake of the May event axing.
Likewise, Cairns-Gold Coast flights are a key economic greenshoot revival. The city will also today welcome hundreds of AFL top brass and others associated with the code as it appears a Queensland grand final and potential Brownlow Medal awards night on the Gold Coast could be imminent.
Just as enticing, and very heartwarming, is the resurrection of Coast accommodation icon Binna Burra Lodge.