CITY RETURNING TO THE WILD SIDE
DEPRIVED of seeing their favourite animals for months, hordes of eager Townsvillians have flocked back to Billabong Sanctuary since it reopened last Saturday.
One of region’s favourite tourist locations, the park closed earlier this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Idalia mum Rebecca Boccalatte said she took her children to the sanctuary just before the pandemic and they had been pestering her for months to go back.
“They have kept asking me all the time to come but it was hard to explain to them that we can’t come because of the virus,” Mrs Boccalatte said.
“We are already planning to come back next week.”
Park owner Bob Flemming said both Saturday and Sunday had been huge and they had received great support from local residents.
“But it has not been only our Townsville residents, we have people here from Mackay, Moranbah and Charters Towers, they have all come out to support us,” Mr Flemming said. He has also welcomed the news that Queensland’s borders will be open to most interstate travellers.
“Its great news and we look forward to visitors from all parts of Australia.”
He said because Billabong Sanctuary was built over 10 hectares they did not have restrictions on the number of visitors but wanted to thank people for their support.
“A big thank you to our locals, we just love our locals and we would not exist without them,” he said.
Billabong Sanctuary is open seven days a week from 9am to 4pm.