Key bodies urge stakeholders to answer rental crisis form
Feedback Form
Tourism Port Douglas Daintree and Douglas Shire Council has launched a critical new survey it wants locals and other invested stakeholders to fill out so the two entities can get a clearer picture of the region’s ongoing rental crisis.
As it stands some locals are sleeping in cars, camping out, and lounge hopping, while backpackers are staying in packed share houses or being turned away because there is simply not enough regular accommodation to house the volumes of people who want to live and work in the area.
The COVID pandemic has seen many local for sale properties snapped up by interstate buyers and those owners are using their new acquisitions for Airbnb purposes, choosing to leave them vacant without tenants, or, lastly relocating to the region and living in them, themselves.
The flow on effect means that local businesses can’t get workers to fill hospitality and tourism positions because those who want jobs in Port Douglas and within local the shire simply can’t find short to long term accommodation.
It’s an ongoing headache both Port Douglas Daintree and Douglas shire are actively trying to solve.
“We are acutely aware of the situation (and) we need your help to be able to put solid figures behind how this is affecting our shire to try and push for a solution,” the survey form reads.
“Please assist us in answering this short survey.”
You can fill the survey out by putting the information below into your browser and following the prompts.