Sunshine Coast Marine shuts and GJ Joyce plumbing feels rate rise pain

A long-standing Sunshine Coast marine business has been crippled by staff shortages as a critical plumbing business also starts to feel the pain.

Crippling staff shortages will force a Noosa marine business of nearly 50 years to close its doors at the end of the financial year.

It is the latest in a string of businesses to fall across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa including popular cafes Argo in Buderim and Press At Noosa in Noosa Junction.

Even critical trades like plumbing are starting to feel the pain of rate increases.

Sunshine Coast Marine owner Ray Scholes has decided to shut his shop just shy of 50 years of trade because he could not find workers.

“Basically our staff’s gone from seven down to three,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Marine owner Ray Scholes will shut the doors of his business just shy of 50 years of trade.

“I’m one of those three and you just burn people out.”

Mr Scholes, 76, said his business had weathered the recessions in the 1980s and 1990s and took a hit in the global financial crisis.

Mitch Green and Ray Scholes who will shut the doors to his well-known Noosaville business at the end of the financial year.

He said recovery was difficult following the GFC and then natural disasters and issues associated with the Covid-19 pandemic that blew out wait times for new vessels also played a role, but it was the staff shortage that claimed the business.

“Unfortunately the industry is losing a lot of people to other lifestyles,” Mr Scholes said.

He opened in a “little tin shed” in Traders Ln in 1976 before moving to Eumundi-Noosa Rd.

The owner, who has lived in Noosaville for most of his life, said he would miss interacting with customers and he intended to stay in the region.

The staff at Sunshine Coast Marine in 2014, from left, Warren Foxwell, Peter Harmer, Ray Scholes, Mitch Green, Dean Rehbein, Caitlyn Foxwell, and Ray's foster parents the late Norma and Mark Horton.

“Customers are good and fun,” Mr Scholes said.

His last day of trade is June 30 and he had no plans following his last day of work.

GJ Plumbing and Drainage owner Greg Joyce said he started his own business six years ago because he needed flexibility for his family commitments as one of his children has autism.

GJ Plumbing and Drainage owner Greg Joyce.

The 57-year-old plumber said he felt “lucky” that he held a critical trade but when the latest interest rate rise was announced, work went quiet.

“In the next week I didn’t get one call after that last interest rate rise,” he said.

The cash rate is 3.6 per cent and interest rates have hit their highest level since May 2012.

The plumber of 40 years said he was also encountering customer feedback questioning his quotes as the cost of building materials increased along with fuel and other expenses associated with the business.

He said he would “rather not work” than buy cheaper materials with “terrible” warranties.

The plumber also decided to move from Sippy Downs after having about $10,000 worth of gear stolen out of the back of his ute.

He said he felt sorry for people who were doing it tough at the moment.

“You should be able to take your family out for a treat every now and again,” Mr Joyce said.