A long-running Sunshine Coast business is now going “gangbusters” after its owners were “devastated” by a wild event just over a year ago.
Bill’s Boat Hire, based on the banks of the Pumicestone Passage at Golden Beach, has welcomed droves of customers in recent months.
But the enterprise, which has run since 1956, faced an uncertain future after a tidal breakthrough at Bribie Island in January last year.
Bill’s was confronted by all sorts of issues.
The island’s trees toppled into the passage, there were dangerous tidal movements and huge chunks of shifting sand blocked parts of the passage and restricted the use of its boats to a smaller and unpredictable area.
Co-owners Craig and Kerrie Chandler, who have been at the helm of the business for seven years, were forced to close their doors and reassess and then, after attempting to pivot their operations, they considered shutting it down for good.
But conditions settled and the northern end of the passage became a “beautiful, big, calm lagoon” and the business was revived just in time for Easter holidays.
Their comeback was completed when Bill’s was deemed the No.1 thing to do in Golden Beach on TripAdvisor and the Chandlers said the time was right to sell it and travel instead.
While the business awaits new owners, the Chandlers have enjoyed plenty of good times with customers.
Locals and visitors made the most of the picturesque area during the recent summer school holidays.
“We are in one of the calmest waterways on the Coast during the busiest period of the year,” Kerrie said.
“The only boats you see getting around the northern tip of Bribie Island are from Bill’s Boat Hire and the odd tinny or jet-ski.
“It (the conditions) created exclusivity for us and it (the business) is going gangbusters because all people want to do is take the boat, have a barbie, land on the beach, build sandcastles and go for a swim in the beautiful water that the Coral Sea pushes in twice a day.
“It’s been unreal for the business, given this time last year we were completely devastated and closed for three months.
“We lost a significant amount of money during what would have been our peak money-making period.
“So, we are stoked to be here and getting returning customers who say ‘it’s great the business is still here’.
“We’ve had a lot of community support and tourists.”
A small breakthrough in one of the large sand bars across the passage last week could change the conditions again in the passage, which is still regarded as a “dynamic” and unpredictable area.
The split could shift sand around or open the waterway once again, allowing the boat hire business with more room to operate in.
A low, which could develop into a cyclone this week, could make its impact felt too.
Possible powerful surf and strong winds could clear the passage, or it could lead to more build-up of sand.
