NZ Herald Wednesday 29 March 2017 Industry operators fear for the state of an Australian icon after Cyclone Debbie lashed Far North Queensland and parts of the Great Barrier Reef.
Emergency crews and tourism operators have been unable to assess the full extent of the damage so far on tourist magnets like Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach.
However, Cyclone Debbie saw the iconic areas – home to the Great Barrier Reef’s famous “heart”, which is an international drawcard for tourists – battered by winds in excess of 200km/h and huge tidal surges that have flooded resorts and ripped boats from their moorings.
Yesterday, Daydream Island in the Whitsundays said it had “borne the brunt of Cyclone Debbie” with extreme rainfall and strong wind gusts damaging the property and surrounding areas. Read more…
