‘Impractical to rebuild’ Queensland resorts after Cyclone Yasi
By RACHEL TOUNE
2 August 2011 MISSION Beach’s iconic Dunk and Bedarra Island resorts will be put up for sale after their owners announced they had abandoned attempts to rebuild following devastation suffered in Cyclone Yasi. Hideaway Resorts, the resorts’ parent company, said the extent of the damage made it unfeasible to attempt a complete refurbishment on its own. Hideaway Resorts chief executive Mark Campbell said they would call for expressions of interest for investment partners in the redevelopment or to buy the properties “as is”. He said it was a hard decision to make considering the impact on staff and with tourism in the region still struggling to get back on its feet. “We have now exhausted all potential avenues of government support for the rebuilding at federal, state and local level, including meeting with relevant ministers and officials,” he said. “Hideaway Resorts is now in the process of appointing a suitable hospitality real estate adviser to assist them to secure expressions of interest in participating in the redevelopment or the sale of the resorts. “We understand it will have significant impacts for our staff and patrons, and more broadly for the tourism industry of Mission Beach. “Since Cyclone Yasi struck on February 3, Hideaway Resorts has worked with the resort owners to fully assess the extent of damage and examine all options for rebuilding the resorts.” The resorts had planned to re-open April 1, 2012. […]
