An island resort devastated by Cyclone Ita almost a year ago has had to delay its reopening, pending yet another unwanted guest: Cyclone Nathan.
With destructive winds forecast to lash Lizard Island, off north Queensland, completion of the $30 million renovation project is expected to be delayed.
About 180 staff and contractors were evacuated from the island on Tuesday.
Workers have spent the past 11 months repairing and upgrading the resort which has been closed since it was severely damaged by Cyclone Ita's 160km/h winds in April last year.
Now they must wait and see if Mother Nature again unleashes carnage on the island.
"It's almost a year to the day," resort executive director Greg Magi told AAP.
"I don't know whose grave I've walked on."
Cyclone Nathan, a category two storm, was 100km north-northwest of the island on Thursday afternoon, bringing gusts up to 130km/h.
Mr Magi said the resort was supposed to welcome its first guests next Friday but that date will now likely be pushed back.
The extent of the potential damage won't be known until Saturday when it will be safe enough for contractors to return to the island.
Nathan is expected to move slowly closer to the coast before making a U-turn over the next 24 hours.
It will intensify into a category three storm as it heads back out to sea.
A cyclone warning is current between Lockhart River on Cape York and Port Douglas, north of Cairns.
The Bureau of Meteorology says some areas will be hit by destructive winds up to 130km/h, and heavy rain is predicted along the far northern coast on Thursday and Friday.
Peter Scott, the mayor of Cooktown which was also damaged during Ita, said strong winds were already hitting the region.
His concern was for small communities further north such as Cape Flattery, which has been evacuated.
Mr Scott said access to Cairns could be cut if heavy rainfall continued.
"At this stage people need to be safe and sound at home."
As much as 400mm of rain has already fallen in some areas south of Cairns over the past two days and flood warnings are in place for the Mulgrave, Tully, Russell and Murray rivers.
At least eight schools and childcare centres in the far north have been closed.
Share
