The Deck Steakhouse closes its doors after lack of kitchen staff

A Mackay restaurant has been forced to close its doors to patrons after management could not find staff to fill vacant positions.

A struggling Mackay restaurant has closed its doors to patrons as a battle with the workforce continues to pile pressure on staff.

The Deck Steakhouse in the Mackay Harbour has temporarily shut down after the business failed to find new cooks and chefs.

The Deck owner Janette Paul said it had been a constant battle to keep the restaurant open.

“We finally got the Deck open after six months, we had it closed from Christmas to June, this shortage has been going on for more than a year,” she said.

“I finally got a couple of chefs and opened it, but they left for more money, or a different job.”

The Deck Steakhouse has closed down amid worker shortage. Picture: Contributed

The Deck initially reduced hours to try to cope with staff shortage, but even as a Friday-Sunday business it still struggled to fill the kitchen.

Ms Paul said other restaurants in the area had faced similar problems.

“It’s not just us, everybody you talk to is struggling to get staff,” she said.

“We’re getting a lot of people applying, but for every 10 that apply, one might answer the phone.

“A lot of them are applying for Centrelink, that’s what they have to do to get their dole payments.

“On our Seek advertisement for bar staff we’ve had 20 people apply and only one answered the phone, it’s just a waste of time.”

The remaining staff from the Deck have been moved into Sails Sports Bar and the Lighthouse, which are other parts of the same business.

Ms Paul said the Deck would need five chefs and cooks to re-open the business.

“Keeping the Deck open was putting pressure on Sails and the Lighthouse, we couldn’t do meals or takeaway properly,” she said.

“I sponsored two people and they just walked out, one left for more money and the other left because he couldn’t cope with the stress.

“One leaves and it puts pressure on the next, they can’t cope so they leave, it’s a dominoes effect.”