Chill at Portofino still in limbo 28 weeks after devastating flood

A Palm Cove restaurant owner has made a damning evaluation of the disaster recovery process and says it would have been quicker and easier to reopen if the building was never covered by insurance.

Palm Cove business owner Tony Mooreduring happier times at Chill at Portofino. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Palm Cove restaurant owner says it would have been easier to reopen his building if he was not covered by insurance following Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the subsequent floods.

Eight months on from the historic December flood event Chill at Portofino owner Tony Moore is still locked in an ongoing fight to get the venue reopened.

Major ceiling collapse, severe inundation of water and electrical damage have been blamed on burst down pipes that were run through the roof of the Williams Esplanade venue.

Chill on Portofino owner Tony Moore has been frustrated by the insurance process. Picture : Brendan Radke

For months Mr Moore has pushed for a start of a new fit out, but the task has been made complicated by different insurance policies held by the landlord and body corporate.

“We are seven months deep and they have not even finished the strip out,” he said.

“The whole process has been interminable, it feels like you are climbing Everest and each time you are about to summit there’s another climb in front of us.

“The most difficult part is co-ordinating the tenant and body corp response and managing that process.”

Midway through January Mr Moore was waiting on the green light to repair a ceiling collapse, severe water, electrical damage and plumbing.

Twenty eight weeks later, he’s still waiting.

Seven months on from a torrential downpour flooding his restaurant and totally destroying his business, Chill on Portofino owner Tony Moore is still stripping back the building and slowly beginning repair work. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Moore said most internal walls have to be removed, the bar of Portifino failed the hygienist report and Mold growth had been an issue.

“The hotel complex had all their water run off plumbed through our ceiling and it all failed and that was 90 per cent of the problem,” he said.

“It would have been so much easier, if we had not been insured and the body corp has to accept responsibility for the catastrophic water ingress.

“(Disaster recovery) is like a circus that runs into town and you only get invited to play at the big top if you have an act that’s played before, it’s a cartel with very few local trades used.”

However through all the hassles Mr Moore has remained upbeat about the future opening.

“The positive thing is there is some gold in the embers and we have some great plans to present Palm Cove and beach front dining in the best possible light,” he said.

“Now it’s a battle to get reopened before Christmas, but I remain 100 per cent committed to being back a superior asset.”

Tony and Manuela Moore have spent more than $1m on the Palm Cove business during a 16 year period and have vowed to revive the celebrated Chill at Portofino venue.

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Originally published as Chill at Portofino still in limbo 28 weeks after devastating flood