Chartered choppers save the day for stranded guests

HAPPY TRAVELLERS

Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

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HAPPY GUESTS: The Silky Oaks Lodge went above and beyond for 50 of its guests after heavy rains made crossing the Anich Bridge impossible. They charted numerous flights from GBR Helicopters to ensure they were able to make their existing travel arrangements. IMAGE: Newsport.

FOR more than 50 guests checking out of Silky Oaks Lodge, yesterday’s heavy rains was not only dramatic from the flooding it caused on the Anich Bridge, it turned into an adventure when they were helicoptered from the lodge to Port Douglas enabling them to continue their journey home.

The luxury eco lodge located on the Mossman River chartered GBR helicopters yesterday and today involving numerous trips.

“It was simply impossible to cross the bridge and we decided to use helicopters to ensure our guests’ safety. This is not the first time we have done this,” said Silky Oaks Lodge owner/director Barbara van Min.

“We did not want our guests to feel that they were trapped. Before they left the lodge, we provided lunch and entertainment and most were in good spirits.

“We now have the additional task of returning their hired cars. But this is the kind of service we provide and we would do it again despite the cost involved,” she said

Ms Van Min estimated the water level rose to about 7m which made crossing the bridge impossible.

“To compound the situation, we also lost power for a number of hours. Fortunately our generator kicked in. I am happy to say that we are now fully operational and ready for whatever faces us next,” she said.

Power was interrupted at 11:19pm on Sunday resulting from a motor vehicle accident in the Mossman Area, according to an Ergon spokesman.

“The accident occurred at the bottom of the Julatten range and brought down three spans of high voltage powerlines. The outage affected those in Mossman and surrounding areas.

“The majority of customers’ power was restored by 2.10 am today and the balance by 7:00 this morning,” he said. 


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