Southern Downs housing crisis to derail hopes of tourism industry revival in $7.5M Work in Paradise campaign

Southern Downs tourism operators could win big in a $7.5m state campaign to attract skilled workers to the regions, but a desperate housing shortage could see new arrivals without homes.

Warwick real estate agent Helen Harm said she’s never seen anything like the region’s current housing shortage in her 15 years’ experience. Picture: NRM

Southern Downs tourism operators could win big in a new campaign to attract skilled workers, but it’s amid fears the region’s housing crisis could see new arrivals homeless.

The Queensland Government announced on Thursday that Southern Downs Regional Council would be one of the areas included in the $7.5 million Work in Paradise initiative. 

The campaign will offer up to $1500 cash payments and free travel for skilled workers taking up a tourism job in regional areas across the state, with more than 4000 positions up for grabs.

With the Southern Downs competing against more than 50 other regions, Mayor Vic Pennisi said the key to success would be marketing its unique features and liveability.

“We absolutely need it. It’s about us putting our hand up and saying this is our point of difference, and this is why they should choose us,” Cr Pennisi said.

“It’s a great place to raise your family, get an education … on top of that, we’ve got great medical facilities and our green spaces are second-to-none.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited Warwick earlier this year to announce $20M drought resilience package for Southern Downs. Picture: Jessica Paul

Even with the promise of more tourism workers as the region’s events season ramps up, Cr Pennisi said the Southern Downs still urgently needed seasonal workers and other skilled labourers.

“The good thing is we’re at the table with government departments, and we’re having those discussions … hopefully some of those options will come to fruition (by about) October this year,” he said.

“The other component is how is our housing going to handle it, (because) we need the skilled labourers and they need to live somewhere.

“It’s all big-picture stuff and it’s all relevant. You eat the elephant one bite at a time, and the biggest journey begins with the first step.”

Adjinbilly Rainforest Retreat owners Sue and Tony Hoopman, Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi, journalist Sally Eeles, Visitor Information Centre volunteer Fran Hockings, and Southern Downs Steam Railway committee member Lindsay Mill at the launch of the council’s podcast.

Finding accommodation for any new workers is a feat that will be easier said than done, according to Warwick real estate agent Helen Harm.

She said she’d never seen anything like the region’s current housing shortage in her 15 years’ experience, with both rental and investment prices steadily on the rise.

“There’s just no rentals – if you’re going to bring (workers) here, where are you going to house them? It’s become an absolutely humongous issue,” Mrs Harm said.

“We’re to the stage now that there’s companies who are trying to get staff and they can’t get a rental, and they’re now actually buying a property to put their staff in.

“It’s just shifting the problem from one place to another … it’s supply and demand, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”