Thargomindah loses only motel in once-in-generation flood

The owners of an outback motel face a $1m repair bill in the wake of the once-in-a-generation flood in Thargomindah.

The Oasis Motel owners Nancy and Paul Sparks. Photo: Nancy Sparks

The owners of an outback motel face a $1m repair bill in the wake of the once-in-a-generation flood in Thargomindah.

Locals are only just coming to terms with the destruction left behind by the slow-moving floodwaters, with the affected area across the South West double the size of Victoria.

The disaster destroyed hundreds of homes, fences and killed 150,000 livestock.

Oasis Motel on Dowling St was submerged for six days but now floodwaters are gone, the destruction has been laid bare.

Nancy and Paul Sparks moved to the rural town for a “lifestyle change” and bought the motel two years ago.

But the couple were advised against flood insurance, as the property was not considered to be in a flood zone. Now, they estimate the cost of rebuilding to be close to $1m.

Floodwaters remain in the town weeks after the worst of nature’s fury. Picture: James Brickwood/POOL

Ms Sparks said flood cover would have cost about $25,000 a year and they did not anticipate floodwaters to rise over the 1974 mark of 6.78m.

“A lot of people did not have flood insurance, because it’s not in a flood zone. There are only a handful of people that actually had insurance,” she said.

“I’ve got business interruption insurance, and I was thinking that that would help, but apparently, because I don’t have flood insurance, they won’t cover anything.”

All 16 rooms have been damaged and need new floors, furniture, electronics, cabinetry, beds and linen.

Mud and dust cover The Oasis Motel hit that was hit by an unprecedented flooding event that has led to a $1m damage bill. Photo: Nancy Sparks

“We have to replace everything – all the beds, all the carpet, the vanities, the wardrobe, everything in the motel room and the kitchen and the restaurant, I don’t believe they’re as bad,” she said. “The quicker we can get it up and running, the quicker we can get more workers into the town to help with other support.”

Ms Sparks’s sister Tanya Goetsch has started a Go Fund Me fundraiser for The Oasis Motel with an $8000 goal.

“The costs are enormous, we can’t do it alone,” she said.

Bulloo Deputy Mayor Glyn Dare said around 90 per cent of homes and nearly every local businesses had been affected by the flooding.

Mr Dare said Thargomindah was in “dire straits” and “struggling to get people back into their homes” as flood waters surround the town.

”We are in dire straits, the town will shut down for a month to get it back on track,” he said.

Destruction left behind by flood waters at the Oasis Motel and Restaurant, owned by Paul and Nancy Sparks in Thargomindah. Photo: Nancy Sparks

“Local pub and accommodation, they are our essential services if they are not up running the town struggles, they are our essential service.

“It’s still 1.7m on the bridge here, still floodwaters, it’s getting away but expecting to hold up a bit longer – probably by Saturday week it should be off the bridge.”

Mr Dare is anticipating a shorter “tourist season” but called on Queenslanders to dig deep and inject cash back into the hardest hit regions once they are ready to reopen.

Quilpie Mayor Ben Hall said the roads were in reasonably “good condition” as the region was beginning to reopen and local residents were able to assess the damage.

Originally published as Thargomindah loses only motel in once-in-generation flood