Workforce Accommodation Issues Workshopped

By Paul Gellatly

A meeting at Bowen Neighbourhood Centre last week attempted to find solutions for the workforce accommodation crisis, which is claimed to be crippling the town and surrounding region.

Hosted by Greater Whitsunday Communities and Regional Development Australia, the meeting was attended by representatives of some of Bowen's major employers and sought to find ways to kickstart more workforce accommodation at a time when the shortage of such lodgings is harming the town's economic progress.

Among the attendees were representatives from Bowen Rail, Whitsunday Regional Council, Gilmour Space, Muroona Gardens aged care facility, Bowen Chamber of Commerce, Abbott Point coal handling facility and associated industries, homestay providers, marine services providers, police, schools and tourism operators. Other attendees who joined in via a videolink represented energy hub projects, Greater Whitsunday Communities and an accommodation provider.

Rob Cocco, CEO of Regional Development Australia (Greater Whitsundays) co-facilitated the meeting with Tonia Wilson, of Greater Whitsunday Communities, and they told the audience of about 20 that about 3000 additional workers' quarters were needed by 2031 in Mackay/Whitsunday regions.

While that was happening, the costs of building were increasing and development proposals were not leading to starts, and rental stocks were "falling through the floor", Ms Wilson said. Part of the problem, she said, was that temporary accommodation was not particularly profitable for builders.

While she urged more liaison with government, she also said many developers "didn't know" what the most pressing concerns over accommodation were.

"We need to demonstrate demand for accommodation. We need to secure commitment from employers to enter long-term agreements for their staff - preferably at a premium - for security of revenue stream to investors."

Mark Hinman, CEO of Accommodation Services Australia, said that while time to market and trades access made prefabricated accommodations an acceptable alternative, they were best suited for work-camp style settings and, because they were often temporary, there were big costs in set-up and probably later dismantling.

"We need workers to stay for three to four years," he said. "We can pick this up with timing," perhaps with a developer on-selling to another.

As well, Ms Wilson said, there was a need to reach the best mix of accommodations for single, or family, requirements.

While seasonal work and temporary postings posed their own challenges for accommodation provision, those seeking employment in essential services such as police, teachers, hospital and aged care staff had declined accepting job offers because rentals in the Bowen area were virtually non-existent and more expensive than rentals in the major cities. This was a major problem that affected their ability to recruit and retain new staff.

Often, the audience heard, employers provided temporary accommodation, after which employees were stranded with nowhere to live. "We have people living in the Burdekin because they can't find accommodation here  (in Bowen), one attendee said. "Temporary visa holders are another group that find it hard."

Access to land affected the dynamics of developer investment, but a Muroona Gardens representative said the aged care facility had plenty of spare land to build on. However, as this was in a flood area, they were required to raise the level of the land by two metres, which made such investment unfeasible.

Such investment also reached critical level when it came to provision of line infrastructure such as sewerage, water and other necessities, Mr Cocco said.

"To attract investment we need to demonstrate demand and secure commitment from employers to address accommodation for staff," Ms Wilson said.

Bowen Chamber of Commerce chairman Bruce Hedditch said engagement with the council was essential.

"We have got to confront the issues facing housing in Bowen. We need a meeting with the Mayor at the earliest possible opportunity."

Tonia Wilson and Bruce Cocco drive discussion on worker housing options for the Bowen region. Photo credit: Paul Gellatly

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