Grampians tourism operators have called for government support claiming a huge bushfire that’s forced the closure of Halls Gap is costing businesses $1.9 million a day.
The Grampians National Park has been closed since Friday evening, with fires expected to burn for weeks during the region’s peak tourist season.
Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said Halls Gap was usually bustling at this time of year.
Marc Sleeman (left) at his Pomonal property with CFA volunteer and tourism manager Ian Gumela. (Supplied: Marc Sleeman)
“Unfortunately the closure is leading to significant loss of revenue for all our local businesses,” Mr Sleeman said, from his Pomonal property which was today wreathed in smoke from the fires.
“This is our peak period, this is the busiest time of the year for our operators.
“There is going to be an urgent need for immediate [government] intervention and long-term activities to ensure our tourism economy recovers.”
Marc Sleeman’s Pomonal property today. (Supplied: Marc Sleeman)
Halls Gap Zoo manager Mark Treweek, who evacuated animals yesterday, and returned them today as conditions improved, said people have cancelled bookings up to the end of January, which was concerning.
“Who knows what the weather’s going to be then,” Mr Treweek said.
“We’re hoping no-one cancels [unnecessarily] because we’re going to need support more than ever, being the busiest time of the year.”
Business in Halls Gap rely on tourism dollars to survive. (ABC News: Syan Vallance)
‘We promised locals we will come back’
South Australian tourist Tania Ingerson was holidaying in Halls Gap on Friday when her trip took a drastic turn.
By 8pm that night, Ms Ingerson said she was forced to evacuate the hotel she had been staying at.
David, Jimi and Tania Ingerson’s travel plans were cut short when the Grampians fire started raging towards their accommodation at Halls Gap. (Supplied: Tania Ingerson)
“The wind changed suddenly and made it unsafe, and we left a couple of hours before it was called an emergency to leave,” Ms Ingerson said.
She said she planned to return to the Grampians in the new year.
“The locals were great. We promised the locals we will come back when it’s safe to do so and we will,” she said.
“We have been to Halls Gaps and the Grampians area many times, hiking, driving and taking in the splendour of nature at her finest.
“The community are friendly and inviting, and we hope that everyone is safe including the wildlife.”
Warning against premature reopening
Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park and Grampians Getaway co-owner Josephina McDonald said safety was her priority.
“The safety of the Grampians, and the people and animals and authorities who are working endlessly to save whatever they can save is at the moment more important than attracting tourists back, and too soon,” Ms McDonald said.
“I’d prefer to have a hard open when everything is 100 per cent safe and ready to go.”
North Hamilton Rural Fire Brigade truck faces a wall of smoke at Grampians bushfires. (Supplied: Cameron Dennert)
While her husband and son fight the fires, Ms McDonald has been making sure her family’s animals were safe, and has been cooking meals for half-a-dozen of their staff.
“The first day everybody was basically defending themselves and I ate a bag of chips and an apple for dinner the first night and we all stayed up till three, four o’clock,” Ms McDonald said.
Ms McDonald recently completed a yoga course aimed at managing stress after surviving the Pomonal fires almost a year ago.
“I must say that course has helped, but there’s definitely moments that you go, ‘Oh god, what are we in for?'”
Cancellations at the worst time
Mr Sleeman defended advice he gave on Tuesday this week encouraging tourists to not cancel their bookings in the Grampians.
“Our activities are guided by the incident control centre, who are in charge of this event,” he said.
“The advice at that time was that it was safe to travel into the region. As we mentioned, Friday was unexpected, and our messaging changes accordingly.”
Mr Sleeman, who almost lost his house in February’s Pomonal bushfire, also wouldn’t be drawn on when he would like to see the park reopen.
Many Halls Gap residents were evacuated. (ABC News: Syan Vallance)
“It’s a watch and wait at the moment.”
Announcing small business grants in Melbourne, Small Business Minister Natalie Hutchin said the state government was looking at providing support for the region.
In Ballarat, federal MP Catherine King said the government was ”working with the Victorian government about what relief will be put in place.”
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