Community
22 December, 2024
Services Australia to re-open in Front St
SERVICES Australia – the Australian Government agency that delivers social services, including Centrelink – is soon to return to its original site.
This follows Bendigo Bank returning to normal service, in Mossman, at its new location in the Town and Country Shopping Centre, 63 Front St.
Queensland Government Agent Services have also now reopened together with the Mossman Magistrates Court immediately next door, one of the final parts of the Mossman recovery process, one year on from Cyclone Jasper and the subsequent floods.
While Services Australia was operating temporarily at the Town and Country Shopping Centre, the usual office, at 23 Front St, has been completely gutted and fitted out with new furniture over the last few months.
It was originally hoped that the newly refurbished office would be open again just prior to Christmas, but due to some extra delays, the opening date is more likely early January 2025.
Overall, both businesses and residents in the Douglas Shire have shown true resilience during the last 12 months.
Some of the hardest hit businesses were those flooded in Front St, Mossman.
Most are now back to normality after much anguish and hard work.
Duke’s Donuts, owned by Mike and Sally Miller, who only started trading at the beginning of last year, found themselves completely flooded soon after the local river banks broke. Hard work and the generosity of locals allowed them to open up again fairly swiftly.
They recently showed their appreciation by offering 100 free donuts to the community on December 6. Part of this gesture was to help Douglas Shire Council promote their Cyclone preparedness message ‘Don’t wait until it’s too late’.
“We live in a natural disaster-prone area, so it’s really important to make sure your safety plans are in place,” Mr Miller said.
Immediately next door, local mobile phone repair shop Smartphone and Tablet Solutions encountered 300mm of muddy flood water during the aftermath of Cyclone Jasper. Once again, local help meant that they were able to trade within a few days.
“We had to clean up without power and water,” shop owner Alison McIlroy said.
“Friends helped us clean up using any rainwater we could find out the back of the shop” she said.
Mossman locals now look towards a more stress-free festive season this year.
Read More: Mossman
