Prime Minister Scott Morrison to visit fire-ravaged hinterland

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will take to the skies today to get a bird’s-eye view of the charred Gold Coast hinterland, where a string of homes have been engulfed by bushfires.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison will take to the skies today to get a bird’s-eye view of the charred Gold Coast hinterland, where a string of homes have been engulfed by bushfires.

After his helicopter tour, Mr Morrison plans to visit Binna Burra and the emergency service staging site at Canungra Sports and Recreation Ground.

FIRST LOOK AT DEVASTATED BINNA BURRA LODGE

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

The area of Binna Burra, near Beechmont, has been the hardest hit by the fires, which have burnt out thousands of hectares of land.

Queensland Police estimated as many as 10 homes had been badly damaged at Timbarra Dr, but yesterday they revised that figure down to eight.

Scenes of devastation at Binna Burra

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However, police were still assessing bushfire damaged areas.

The historic Binna Burra Lodge was also destroyed in the blaze on Sunday night, alongside several other structures.

Some homes on Timbarra Dr at Binna Burra were left untouched. Picture: Luke Mortimer.

The Bulletin was allowed entry into doomsday-like Timbarra Dr yesterday, alongside police.

Returning residents will find nature is a fickle beast — some homes have been left untouched.

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Rainforest remains on one side and ruins on the opposite side of Timbarra Dr in some spots.

Vegetation could still be seen smouldering days later and the air was thick with ash.

The fire that roared through the street appeared to have acted in a random nature, judging by patches of land left unscathed.

Scott Pospisil was working on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme when he was told his house at the end of the street had been destroyed.

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Binna Burra resident Scott Pospisil was working in the Snowy Mountains when he was told his house on Timbarra Dr had burnt down. He was thrilled to find the building still standing on his return home. Picture: Luke Mortimer

He dashed back to find his home miraculously still standing on Monday — fire had burnt out surrounding bush and come within metres of the building.

“Very lucky. We lost the garden shed and that’s it,” he said.

“It’s burnt all around the house. I was in the Snowies in three foot of snow.

“There was a bit of confusion. I was told my house was burnt down so I flew home.

‘CONFRONTING’ SCENES OF DEAD LIVESTOCK IN HINTERLAND

Firefighters on the ground at Timbarra Dr, Binna Burra on Thursday. Picture: AAP Image/Glenn Hunt

“For all I knew it was burnt to the ground and I came here and it’s still standing.”

Mr Pospisil has lived on Timbarra Dr for 22 years and said he had never seen such dry conditions or ferocious fire activity.

“It’s usually humid and it’s rainforest,” he said.

“We don’t usually get fires here.”

Mr Pospisil said the street would “band together” to support those in need.

“Most of the people here are musicians so we’ll get a concert together, do a benefit concert. We’re already getting people together,” he said.

“It is what it is. You’ve just got to deal with it and support each other, and everyone will do that.”

Police believed most residents who lost homes are insured.