Mayor encourages Airbnb owners to consider community benefits

Local economy

Michael Warren

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Port Douglas has a shortage of workers but a lack of accommodation is hindering efforts to fill a range of hospitality positions like those seeking bar work in local pubs.

Plentiful work opportunities but nowhere for potential new workers to lay their heads at night and call home during their time in Port Douglas.

That’s the conundrum that continues to plague Port Douglas, as tourism and hospitality jobs goes begging amid an ongoing housing and accommodation crisis that sees Port Douglas’ rental vacancy rate - 0.4% - amongst the highest in the state.

The recently launched – ‘Adopt a worker’ campaign is an out-of-the-box idea and a concept definitely worth supporting.

However, it still won’t immediately solve the crippling issue that continues to cause lingering headaches for so many people in and out of the Douglas shire.

“Council is aware, that like most of Australia, housing availability is an issue,” Douglas Shire mayor Michael Kerr told Newsport.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the State and Federal government on how this issue can be resolved.

“We also strongly welcome a balanced approach to accommodation within Douglas that meets the needs of long-term residents, seasonal workers, and visitors, who want to experience our beautiful Far North Queensland.

“I have been advocating for Airbnb owners to do this and to look at the long term benefits of visitor satisfaction, rather than (the) quick incomes that won’t continue if service levels are not there to invite return visitors.”

Priced out of the market?

While renting an Airbnb for short term purposes might be one answer, for some, it’s still not an affordable option.

“There is no legislation to my knowledge on what property owners can charge, it comes down to market price and what people are willing to pay.

“This unfortunately can prevent people from being able to afford accommodation in various areas, but in the end it’s up to the property owner to charge what they believe their property is worth.”

Breakdown of accommodation offerings

More broadly the mayor provided a clear breakdown of other short and long term accommodation offerings.

“Under the Local Government Planning scheme Council does allocate areas for short term and long-term accommodation areas which are used for development applications as a suitable purpose as it does for hi density and low density living,” Mr Kerr explained.

“This controls what type of properties are built in certain areas. Once constructed, if a house for example is being used for residential purposes and remains at a domestic scale (i.e. six or less non-related occupants), then the use of a house in this manner is consistent with the definition of dwelling in the Planning Scheme regardless if it’s a long term lease or not.

“The people who stay in these properties are obviously chosen by the owner of the property, so it would be up to the property owner to choose whether it’s a long term or short-term agreement.”

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