One week on from being thrashed by Cyclone Debbie's 163km/h winds and more than 240mm of rain, the Whitsunday Islands continue their long road to recovery.
Tourism operators who were preparing for the school holiday and Easter trade now have limited or no capacity for guests.
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Clean up begins after widespread flooding
Businesses have been destroyed and homes ruined by the weekend's flooding. Massive clean up operations are now underway all across Queensland and Northern NSW. Vision courtesy: ABC News 24
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the damage bill for Cyclone Debbie's trail of destruction in Queensland was expected to run into the billions.
The Whitsunday Islands were one of the areas worst hit by the category four storm, along with Airlie Beach, Bowen and Proserpine.
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Daydream Island
Daydream Island was hit by the full force of Cyclone Debbie and the Island Resort and Spa is also allegedly now on the receiving end of a string of complaints from former guests.
On Tuesday morning ABC News reported guests on the island at the time Cyclone Debbie hit were preparing to lodge an official complaint against the resort about how they handled preparations for and evacuations after the cyclone.
A guest told ABC they were not warned about the cyclone at time of check in on Saturday and claimed that after the cyclone they had been given no direction on what to do once evacuated from the island.
On Tuesday afternoon Daydream Island Resort and Spa released a statement defending their actions during the cyclone.
"At approximately 11am on Saturday 25th March communication advising of the potential severity of the forthcoming weather event and advice for guests to consider their travel plans in the form of a letter was distributed to all rooms and also made visible on the check-in desk," the statement said.
"The Harbour Master who controls the waterways issued an advice to operators including Daydream Island on Saturday 25th that they would be closing the ports and stopping water traffic operating from 6pm that evening. Daydream received this advice at approximately 3pm.
"This was communicated immediately to guests to let them know that if they wanted to leave the resort they would have to do so that afternoon.
"In all approximately 15 guests decided to bring forward their departures and leave the island that afternoon. At that stage, the cyclone was tracking further to the north of The Whitsundays."
The statement also said Daydream management did all they could to assist, including providing refunds for accommodation and free food during the cyclone lock down.
The island is working towards re-opening to guests but at this stage will not accept new arrivals until at least April 30.
"Daydream is still assessing the full damage sustained from Cyclone Debbie. Until such time as a decision can be reached on Daydream's recovery, no decision has been made with regard to staff and all staff are currently being paid," the statement said.
"As soon as Daydream Island can provide a more detailed update on its operations and reopening schedule we will do so immediately."
Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island will be welcoming guests back from April 8.
Hamilton Island Enterprises CEO Glenn Bourke said Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and holiday homes would re-open at a reduced capacity on Saturday. The Beach Club will open from April 13.
"The number of rooms available at each property will be limited in the short term and will continue to increase over time," Mr Bourke said.
"Renovations for Qualia which were scheduled to commence in July have been brought forward to commence immediately and Qualia will re-open June 1.
"We will continue to increase capacity in the coming months with a view to being fully operational again by August.
"I would like to thank everyone who has sent Hamilton Island messages of encouragement and support.
"Most importantly, I would like to thank our indomitable staff, for their dedication to our guests last week during the most difficult of times, their unwavering positive attitude throughout and the enormous personal and collective effort that is going into swiftly restoring Hamilton Island to the idyllic destination that it is."
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