Fun in the sun
Cash flows into region as more restrictions ease to much delight
MONEY rained down as the sun shone on struggling COVID-19-HIT pubs, cafes, restaurants and accommodation providers from Cardwell to Lucinda at the weekend.
Tourists from Townsville, Charters Towers and Ayr descended on the Hinchinbrook Shire’s pristine coastal reaches with hotels, resorts and holiday parks fully booked a day after COVID-19 restrictions were again eased.
Day trippers and school holiday-makers worked up thirsts and appetites fishing, boating and exercising on the shire’s beaches and in its lushgreen parks and playgrounds.
Publican Trent O’neill, owner of the refurbished and revamped Lucinda Point Hotel told the Townsville Bulletin on Saturday that the business was fortunate to have survived the near total shutdown of the hospitality industry.
He said the easing of restrictions was a timely blessing, with the situation previously “touch and go” for many local businesses.
“We’re fully booked, Wanders Holiday village (camping ground) is 100 per cent occupancy, many of the tourists are from Townsville,” he said.
“It makes you wonder if we need tourists from Victoria or NSW.”
He said a second wave would be disastrous, if not catastrophic for the hospitality industry.
“I don’t even want to think about it,” he said.
Further north in the picturesque town of Cardwell on the southern tip of the Cassowary Coast, parking was at a premium on Saturday, with North Queenslanders travelling between Cairns and Townsville stopping to enjoy crab sandwiches at the Cardwell Seaview Deli Cafe, or top-quality pub grub and cold drinks at the Marine Hotel.
Owners Alan and Margaret Power said the pub’s bottle shop and the retention of four staff on Jobkeeper welfare payments had kept the seaside pub afloat during COVID-19.
Mrs Power said the sun and lifting of restriction had buoyed their spirits.
“Poker machines were allowed in yesterday, so that was very exciting for us, we might even start making some money now.”
She said the town had been packed all week, saying it had been fantastic for the town, with the visitors thirsty and hungry.
“They’ve been having lunch and dinner here, so it’s been really good.”