Sunshine Coast business owners push for better housing options as staff numbers dwindle due to affordability crisis

Sunshine Coast restaurateur Tony Kelly and other business owners have opened up on the brutal battle to recruit staff during the ongoing housing affordability crisis.

Rice Boi Owner Tony Kelly. Picture: Lachie Millard

Some of the region’s largest employers in key industries including hospitality are battling to fill positions as recruits struggle to find a place to live.

The housing affordability crisis engulfing the Sunshine Coast has been felt by business owners across the region.

The Sunshine Coast Daily has launched the Locked Out campaign in a bid to shed a light on the lack of affordable housing and its impacts on the region’s economy.

Tony Kelly, who owns some of the Coast’s most popular restaurants including Rice Boi in Mooloolaba, said it had been “brutal” trying to hire entry level and casual staff because those being recruited had nowhere to live.

Mr Kelly said the lack of “stock” in the rental market had proved difficult for many low level income earners after the market became “supercharged”.

“Two years ago you could move to Beerwah, Landsborough or Nambour where you could pick and choose … but even in those suburbs there’s no stock, there’s no homes,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Business Alliance chairman Wallis Westbrook said small businesses were also affected by the issue.

“Smaller businesses are struggling in the same way,” he said.

“I’ve heard a number of stories where employers are needing to do things they haven’t thought about before like head leasing properties so they can provide accommodation for a number of staff at one property.”

Sunshine Coast Business Alliance chairman Wallis Westbrook says Coast business leaders are looking for solutions to the housing crisis. Picture: Cade Mooney

Youi Insurance chief people officer Debra Kraft said the huge uptake in people wanting to move to the Coast since the pandemic had put pressure on housing.

“We speak with several people for all sorts of roles and it’s definitely a challenge,” Ms Kraft said.

Residential Tenancies Authority figures show median rental prices for a two-bedroom flat in the Sunshine Coast Council region were $450 in the last June quarter, up from $365 at the same time last year.

Figures from national campaign against homelessness Everybody’s Home showed disability support, childcare, hospitality and supermarket workers would have to work more than 22 hours a week to afford the average rent.

Restaurateur Tony Kelly is calling for better housing solutions as he struggles to recruit entry level staff. Picture: Matty Holdsworth

The Queensland Government has announced it would build 40 new affordable homes in Caloundra.

It also contributed $8.9 million to the $18.4 million Churches of Christ in Queensland – a not-for-profit organisation which focuses on community housing and retirement living and turned its first sod in Little Mountain on August 25.

Mr Kelly said the issue would remain while borders stay shut and available housing was scarce.

“Once the international borders open and we can travel again, there will be more stock on the Coast,” he said.

“I know several people who work abroad and usually live overseas but are currently working from home on the Sunshine Coast.

“This new influx of homes (being built) are still 12 to 18 months away and it’s hard to think there’s going to be any short term release.”

Mr Westbrook said employers were determined to find solutions for the problem.

“They’re doing whatever they can, offering housing with employment, looking at can they strike up partnership or relationships with real estate agents to get priority access for their employees,” he said.

He said one medium term solution could be “things like releasing land and enabling more investment in housing stock”.

“It’s really about trying to think about what can we do now, is there housing relief we can provide but it’s not just about the cost of housing but it’s also availability,” he said.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast business owners push for better housing options as staff numbers dwindle due to affordability crisis