Bamaga Tavern and Cape York Lodge up and running again

COVID-19 has dealt a great blow to the hospitality industry including to the remote community of Bamaga at the tip of Cape York Peninsula.

Community owned Bamaga Enterprises Ltd (BEL) operates the Bamaga Tavern and Cape York Peninsula Lodge. Forward bookings have been very strong for the 2020/21 international tourist season.

Chris Foord is General Manager of BEL.

‘As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 manager was retrenched, 5 employees resigned (they preferred to go onto JobSeeker than take on new duties via JobKeeper) and 1 chef was stood down and later resigned due to the closure of the Tavern bistro.’ Chris said.

‘A few casual housekeeping staff at the Lodge were stood down but most were retained to do major spring cleaning etc.’

During this period, BEL has benefited from a $100,000 Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) grant and loan as part of IBA’s COVID relief package.

The funding has assisted in covering fixed costs such as electricity to enable the re-opening of the Tavern and the restaurant at the Lodge, as well as re-engaging some staff previously stood down.

Prior to the shutdown, there were plans to do some renovations but this period enabled them to make those renovations more extensive.

Flossie Sam is a housekeeper at the Lodge.

‘It’s good to get out of the house and have some different social interaction,’ Flossie said.

Flossie wasn’t out of work for too long and enjoyed the JobKeeper break.

‘We didn't have many [customers] during the Indigenous communities’ lockdown as business people weren’t able to enter the region. The local restaurant customers are happy to be able to get out and enjoy a meal.’

Since the end of lockdown, visitors and tourists have begun to visit Bamaga again, assisted by the reintroduction of regular flights.  

Robert Poipoi is BEL’s Chairperson.

‘We’re relieved to have had most of our operations back on board by late July,’ Robert said.

‘For the three months before that, the Lodge offered themed take-away nights twice per week for the community, as well as catering for take-away roast nights at the BP, and these were extremely popular with our locals.’

‘This has meant we’ve been able to keep more of our staff in work during this challenging period when we’re seeing no tourists, as well as providing alternative food options for the NPA community.’

‘We would like to thank our staff and community for their patience during this challenging time. We’d also like to thank industry and government bodies such as the IBA for their support.’

Customers can be assured that the entire enterprise has a COVID Safe Industry Plan in place.

Being shut off from the rest of the Cape and from Cairns was difficult for the community. Chris Foord said the easing of restrictions are welcomed.

‘They include the ability to receive friends and family from Cairns or to visit Cairns to buy things not available in the Northern Peninsula Area,’ Chris said.

‘Or to just enjoy a change of environment, and for locals to go out for the evening. It also makes organising funerals much easier.’

‘However, this will mean that less money will be spent in the community now the Cairns option is available, which will affect local businesses if tourists do not arrive in good numbers to balance this out.’

‘There is also some apprehension that tourists may bring COVID-19 into the community but at this stage we don’t know just how many tourists are going to make a late tourist season visit to The Tip.’

The community is looking forward to getting back to normal.