Inside ‘ground zero’ for SA’s regional worker and housing crisis – Bordertown

One spot in SA is “ground zero” for the regional worker and housing shortage – the upper South-East desperately wants to grow, but just can’t.

The state’s upper South-East is considered “ground zero” for South Australia’s regional worker and housing crisis.

Bordertown, 18km west of the Victorian border, is a hotspot of intense demand for rental accommodation and homes to meet an abundance of well-paid jobs.

Community leaders say almost every business could hire more staff today such as mechanics, tradies, processor workers for crops or meat work, cleaners, hospitality staff and farm hands.

Compounding the housing shortage and rental crisis is a mains water problem, which locals say is preventing new home and commercial land construction 270km southeast of Adelaide.

Tatiara Business Association chairman Daniel Staude, 39, said the large roadblocks “dampens your spirit”.

Mr Staude, who could hire three new tradies for his 15-year electrical business, accused state and federal governments of years of inaction. “They just think small towns just putter along,” he said.

“You will be surprised that our regions are flying along but we need their support.”

Shane Longbottom, 56, has been forced to buy several homes to help house workers for his Tatiara Industrial Repairs business of 25 years, located on the northwest industrial park.

Owner of Tatiana Industrial Repairs, Shane Longbottom, with Clement Dinning and Toby Brown. Picture: Ben Clark

“We never say no to a job – we’ll work out a way to deliver – but we’ve got enough work to see out the year already,” said the father of two in between calls for new orders and queries.

“I could put a dozen people on right now and pay them a decent wage. We’re here to spend money and grow but we can’t because we can’t get staff. It’s a nightmare and we’re not alone.”

Meatworks JBS, which employs the area’s biggest workforce, spent $3m in late 2021 buying a local motel to house 70 food process staff.

Plant manager Trevor Schiller, 60, said he could hire another 50 workers today to join his 500-strong workforce, who produce $1bn worth of meat a year.

Workers Aizhu Fu, Ma Leah Saraosos and Pavi at JBS Meat Production in Bordertown. Picture: Ben Clark

“Ongoing labour shortages are a challenge for our business,” he said. “(This) has been compounded by a lack of affordable housing and infrastructure.”

Tatiara District Council chief executive Anne Champness said the latest industrial estate sold out in six months in 2020 and a next stage planned for 28 new allotments.

But while preparing land division last year, SA Water advised that its water supply was “at capacity” and the new industrial development could not be serviced.

Ms Champness said supplies relied on a groundwater lens from Tatiara Creek but reduced flows had increased salinity, meaning the aquifer was not replenishing to meet demand of 2800 residents.

“Infrastructure work is now required to meet increasing demand and ensure the long-term security of (our) water supply,” she said.

SA Water advised extending the River Murray pipeline 45km from Keith would cost $43m.

Labor Ministers were briefed in June last year during Country Cabinet.

An SA Water spokesman said it was “exploring a broad range of infrastructure solutions and the associated costs” to help development and ensuring reliability of supply.