General News
25 December, 2024
‘We’re open for business’
“PREPARE for the worst – anything up from there is a bonus.”
That’s the warning from Cape Tribulation businessman Jeremy Blockey, who owns Cape Trib Farm, a year after Cyclone Jasper devastated the region.
While he has issued a warning to be prepared, he has also urged tourists and visitors to come back and see the beauty of the area.
“We are now pretty much back to normal so this (negative) perception now needs to be dispelled with more positive branding and messaging,” Mr Blockey said.
In the meantime he said: “Rely first and foremost on your own plans, preparation and capacity to respond to an event, and if you feel you don’t have that capacity, then reach out to you neighbours – or reach out to help them”.
“Apply for government grants and assistance, and be grateful for what you receive, but be prepared to be disappointed.
“I think it is fair to say that much of the assistance was well-intentioned but ultimately mis-directed or poorly delivered.
“There was a lot of political and media attention on the Daintree to Degarra-Wujal region, but the practical response really left a lot to be desired.
“There are so many instances where things didn’t work well, and quite a few where they did, but unfortunately (the) council has consistently ignored the need to review this natural disaster event and I believe there have been few lessons learned.
“Combined with the departure of a number of key council staff, there has been a loss of corporate knowledge and a missed opportunity for capacity building.
“Unfortunately this leads to reduced confidence in the ‘system’ being capable of better response in the future, and ultimately this leads to communities retreating and taking a more insular approach.
“Our community has effectively learned to not trust the authorities and that if we need something to happen we have to do it ourselves. In truth, this is not the best way to build ‘resilient’ communities. This may all sound rather negative, but this is our lived experience at Cape Trib, devoid of any backslapping and glossy reports.
“We have weathered the storm, largely self-reliant, and approach the anniversary of Jasper with strength and strategies to take us forward.”
Mr Blockey said that after over three months of being cut off, with no tourism whatsoever, it was a struggle to generate normal tourism trade.
“Once the road was open to traffic there were lags in tourism bookings because of the negative publicity around Jasper.
“In addition there were still significant delays at Alexandra and Noah ranges because of the restricted road conditions, though these have eased markedly.
“And while we were technically open for business, the experience was not quite the iconic World Heritage rainforest with parts of the parks facilities not back to normal.
“This has led to some negative perceptions about the Daintree and for months this has translated into Cairns and Port businesses discouraging tourists to visit the Daintree.”
Mr Blockey said business recovery had been “slow and patchy.
“However, it is pertinent to look at the broader market shifts which have also affected tourism into FNQ this year – notably, domestic visitor numbers are down on the last couple of years (which had been stimulated by Covid overseas travel restrictions and expensive airfares), while international visitors have returned in greater numbers, though still well below pre-Covid levels and not making up for the drop in domestics.”
Despite this, Mr Blockey said there was a cautious feeling of optimism in the local business community.
“We have an anxious few months over the wet season, but forward bookings from overseas for the 2025 tourism season (June-October) are starting to look more normal. So on balance, definitely more cause for optimism,” he said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the council was continually reviewing and strengthening its disaster management arrangements.
“The prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from disasters requires dedicated resourcing and this is critical to successfully recovering from events such as Tropical Cyclone Jasper,” she said.
“(The) council has acted by introducing a disaster management unit that is resulting in an uplifting of disaster-related activities across (the) council,” she said.
“The disaster management unit is led by a highly experienced disaster management expert, with skilled staff working hard to implement lessons learnt and ensure (the) council is prepared and ready to respond.
“Scenario training, skills development and service engagement is at a level not seen before in (the) council, and this will have long term positive impacts for (the) council and the community.
“An experienced recovery specialist will soon commence in the disaster management unit, dedicated to Tropical Cyclone Jasper community recovery and future planning.”
extension to grants deadline
APPLICATIONS for ‘extraordinary disaster assistance recovery grants’ for primary producers impacted by Cyclone Jasper have been extended until June 30, 2025
Eligible primary producers who suffered direct damage from Jasper and the associated rainfall and flooding, can apply for grants up to $75,000 through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).
Grants can be used to assist with pasture rehabilitation, fodder, replacing livestock, and repairs to infrastructure and equipment. Eligible primary producers in the Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Hinchinbrook, Mareeba and Tablelands local government areas can apply for the grants.
