Cyclone Debbie: Boating industry support crew arrives

A Boating Industry Association (BIA) support crew departed Brisbane Airport on Sunday (April 2, 2017) for Far North Queensland to help industry members cope with the extensive damage to boats, marinas and infrastructure from Severe Cyclone Debbie.

Led by BIA Queensland Manager Aaron McKenna, a team of nine people met up at Brisbane Airport for the final leg to the heart of the Cyclone Debbie destruction zone. Four volunteers were staff of members in NSW and the rest from members in Brisbane and the Gold Coast marine precinct.

A call out to members during the week resulted in a prompt response, with fast offers of cash and services allowing for the support effort to go ahead.

A quality mix of marina construction experts and boat-handling people will allow the crew to provide much need specialised support to local BIA businesses devastated by the storm.

Tropical Cyclone Debbie has affected eight local Queensland government
areas and assistance is also being provided through the jointly-funded
Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements
(NDRRA).

The assistance will be extended in Mackay and Whitsunday
to include concessional interest rate loans and interest rate subsidies
for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations,
whose assets have been significantly damaged, or who have suffered a
significant loss of income. Links at the bottom of this story for more
details.

SUPPORTING LOCAL EFFORTS
Meantime, Aaron McKenna, who coordinated the logistics for the BIA trip, said the effort is meant to support existing local efforts.

"At first it was hard to contact anyone to understand what was needed, but when I finally got through the offer was overwhelmingly wanted, needed and appreciated.

"Our team, put together from our members, will arrive with an understanding of how boating facilities are built, operate and work. Our intention is to help our colleagues get back to operations as quickly as possible."

The crew have now arrived in the Airlie Beach precinct and have begun their support mission by visiting members in the vicinity to determine what help can be provided.

"We do hope at some point to get to Hamilton Island where we know the need is extreme, but contact there is still very difficult," McKenna said on Sunday.

The team consists of Peter (Zoob) and Jackson Kilpatrick from Orca Marine Services, John Lawler from Empire Marina, Lars Steele-Mills from d’Albora Marinas, Ryan Hogan from Superior Jetties, Alister Copley from CM-Consulting, freelancer Bobby Hale, and BIA Past President and Life Member Doug Olding.  It is expected the the core team will be joined by others travelling independently midweek.

DESTRUCTION ZONE
Before commencing the trip, McKenna said that challenges have already presented themselves.

"Limited facilities in the area will mean that the crew will be staying in fairly basic accommodation. Ensuring the crew have freshwater available once there was a task, and the need to transport specialised tools with the crew was not easy. 

"This said, we are not going on a holiday, and compared to what the local members and people endured we count ourselves lucky to have the opportunity to help."

CYCLONE RESPONSE
BIA CEO, Howard Glenn, initiated the response and thanked those who have come forward so quickly.

"Apart from the human effort put forward by volunteers, I appreciate the rapid financial contributions from members to the Cyclone response, which helped get it underway. We’d welcome further donations for this national effort," Mr Glenn said.

Reports from the support crew will be provided by the BIA as they come to hand.

More at Australian Government's Disaster Assist and

Queensland Government’s Disaster management websites.

Photo Credit: Jon Clements on the ABC Emergency facebook page.