Page 106 - Port Douglas Magazine 44

PLAYING THE LONG
GAME FOR A DREAM
DOUGLAS LIFESTYLE
WORDS BY Bryan Littlely to the region.
Douglas has always been a
wonderful place to live, work
and play... and it stands to
be even better, not simply
with new investment, fresh
projects and big ticket events
that draw a crowd but a long
game approach to building
on our strengths.
108 Port Douglas Magazine & Travel Planner
I think once people visit and see how balanced
life can be - work during the day and spend the
afternoons outdoors with the family, all while
avoiding bitter winter weather - they get it.’’
“For young families, fi nding affordable and “It would be nice to have more families do come to work in Douglas, and have a
After a decade-high peak in residential “Where else could you snorkel the Great available rentals or homes to buy can be come up here,’’ he said. trade behind you, there’s every chance you
building approvals in 2021-22, 105 for Barrier Reef one day and go mountain tough. Raine & Horne’s Travis Schumacher says will be snapped up and put to work helping
the fi nancial year, the work to make biking the next? The pace may be slower “From a business point of view, being the residential rental market is still very to build an even better place to live.
more Douglas homes for more people than the cities, but you can still run a regional means, you sometimes need to tight for quality family homes but prices While the tourism and hospitality industry
to call the region home has faced its professional business,’’ Joe says. work harder to source materials or fi nd sit in a better place for families than four continue to dominate job numbers for
challenges. As a local, Joe is passionate about specialised trades. Logistics and weather years ago. Douglas Shire, accommodation and food
New dwelling approvals halved the supporting local trades and services, (especially during the wet season) can also “Real estate sales of houses in the shire services jobs sitting at 1213 of the 5326
following year and hit a 10 year low in with a strong focus on hiring within the throw a few curveballs your way. But you have seen a drop in the median price since jobs in the Shire (22.8%), employment
2023-24 of just 28. Douglas Shire. adapt to the conditions.’’ May 2024 when it was at a peak after the in construction is on the way up, and
With 18 new home approvals by Douglas “There are so many talented tradespeople Real estate gurus, Raine & Horne’s Travis Covid effect. Since then, there has been only further growing with the rebuild
Shire Council in the fi rst half of this year in the area, and it’s important to keep that Schumacher and Ray White’s Mark Flinn a slight gradual downturn in prices and a after Cyclone Jasper and the floods that
there is still a lot of work to be done to local network strong,” he said. say opportunities for families to call return to a buyers’ market,’’ Travis said. followed.
drive up the affordable family and fi rst “I’m always talking to mates or other Douglas home are opening up. “This would mean a young family should The accommodation and food service
home options needed to help bring the tradies about the lifestyle up here. It’s a Mark says while the “sweet spot” for fi rst fi nd it much easier to call Douglas Shire sector has taken a hit over that same
next generation of community builders bit of a hidden gem. I think once people home buyers to purchase homes has likely home compared to four years ago.’’ period, a product of Covid-19 restrictions
visit and see how balanced life can be disappeared in Port Douglas, there are still Travis says an Over 55’s Community Living and shutdowns, and down by a total
But enthusiastic builders, the real estate - work during the day and spend the options across the region. and/or Retirement Village would benefi t 322 of workers. The return of the eager
backpacker workforce since the last data
sector and our Douglas Shire Council
afternoons outdoors with the family, all
“The whole affordability situation comes
the shire with locals staying in the area
leaders, all with their sights set on the while avoiding bitter winter weather - into play wherever you are in Australia close to family when they retire or go into collection in 2023, and genuine prospects
of a stronger approaching tourist season,
ideas and opportunities to do things they get it.’’ and while the fi rst home buyer market assisted independent living. with the impacts of Jasper now long behind
in Douglas even better, are working to
in Port Douglas is likely gone, there are
Joe says the Douglas region is not
make development and growth easier, without its challenges, but you can opportunities in Mossman and Cooya,’’ Travis says he still gets a kick out of selling the region, should lift the workforce.
to fi rst home buyers and families moving
and build the region. adapt. Mark said. to the area from down south. Regardless, accommodation and food
services, construction and the retail trade
Legendary returned local builder Joe
Brown says he is back in the region with “One thing I had to adapt to is that “The unit market is still an option with “I feel it’s my little contribution in helping sector combined counted for 40 per cent
residential staff still pretty active.’’
sometimes the weather’s just too good
them fi nd a home in the area, giving them
of all jobs in the Shire in 2023.
wife Mikaela and their young family to to work. Plenty of people will swap tools Mark said it had become more diffi cult to some tips on the shire, doing what I can to
establish Legacy Build Group having
honed his skills in Brisbane and Cairns … for a day on the reef - fi shing, swimming, develop a subdivision and that had slowed help them feel welcome,’’ he said.
or spearing - just making the most of
down the opportunity to build more
and not just because of the “unbeatable this incredible place we’re lucky to call affordable family homes across the region. Employment fi gures over the fi ve years to
the 2022/23 fi nancial year show that if you
lifestyle’’.
home,’’ he laughed.