Port Douglas locals asked to house seasonal workers amid rental crisis

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A new matchmaking campaign is being launched today in Port Douglas in a bid to fill staff shortages over the peak tourism season.

Residents of the seaside town are being asked to rent out a spare room in their homes to accommodate seasonal workers struggling to find accommodation.

The initiative has taken inspiration from the ‘Adopt A Worker’ campaign in Lorne, on Victoria’s south coast.

Tourism Port Douglas Daintree’s chief executive Tara Bennett is urging the community to help solve housing challenges – which are being felt across the right across the region.

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“We are asking the Douglas community to step up and assist the tourism industry by putting forward any space they may have to accommodate our much-needed seasonal workers,” she said.

“If you have a spare room, granny flat, vacant land suited to a tent or van we’re urging you to ‘Adopt A Worker’.

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Port Douglas currently has a record low – and of the region’s tightest – rental vacancy rates at 0.4 per cent, according to the latest SQM research (April).

Cairns recorded 0.7 per cent in the same period, while Innisfail is sitting at 0.3 per cent and Mareeba an incredible 0.0 per cent.

Data on realestate.com.au indicates the median house rental in Port Douglas has risen 9.1 per cent over the last year to $600 per week.

The median unit rental has risen even further at 11.8 per cent over the same period to reach $380 each week.

Everyone from families on acreage to empty nesters with some spare space are encouraged to become a host.

Port Douglas local Sharon Timms is just one to jump on board as a host. 

“I had a spare room and don’t mind a chat, so rather than seeing the space go unused, I’m more than happy to house someone while here on their tropical adventure,” she said. 

Salsa Bar & Grill in Port Douglas, PK’s Jungle Bar in Cape Tribulation, and Daintree Discovery Centre are just three business in need of temporary staff over the next six months.

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Salsa Bar and Grill owner Rhys Bawden said his business has felt the issue firsthand, being unable to operate at full capacity due to housing shortages.

“We have staff members that have lived and worked in Port Douglas for over 15 years losing their homes to increased rent making them unaffordable,” he said.   

“Properties are [also] being taken out of the rental pool to become holiday homes.”

Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, Douglas Shire Council and Douglas Chamber of Commerce are the three organisations behind the initiative.

The council is also pushing for greater controls over Airbnb to “reduce an onslaught of mini resorts” in residential neighbourhoods, according to Mayor Michael Kerr.

Business owners with house-hunting staff and potential hosts can head here for more information.