Seniors who call Shark Bay in Western Australia home trade caravans for a house

Australia Broadcast Center

2 days ago

Nearly everywhere in Australia is grappling with a lack of affordable housing.
The small West Australian coastal hamlet of Shark Bay, with fewer than 900 residents, is no different.
Bronwyn Hook has lived in the area for 11 years in a caravan.
"There was nowhere else to live … I couldn't afford rent," she said.
So when the state government and Shire of Shark Bay finished construction of 12 social homes for people over 60, Ms Hook could not contain her excitement.
"I've got a toilet … this shower is more than twice the size of [mine]," Ms Hook said.
"I'll be able to stretch my arms and move without hitting the walls.
"Being able to afford it … it means a lot to the older folks. They don't have to leave town."
Denham is the main town in the shire, 830 kilometres north of Perth.
At the time of publication, there were no homes for sale or rent in Denham on any real estate websites.
The 12 homes were constructed and designed for people aged 60 and over with a connection to the town.
Shire of Shark Bay president Cheryl Cowell said the new homes freed up some places for private rentals, but they were not enough to solve the issue.
"We've certainly got no shortage of new applicants for the remaining units," she said.
The primary reasons people left town were a lack of housing, medical services and education.
"We really lack medical facilities … we only have a doctor, if we're lucky, one day a week," Cr Cowell said.
Growing the town of Denham has been a balancing act, with a lack of services slowing growth as well as a lack of properties to attract doctors and teachers.
Cr Cowell said after 20 years of no new Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) houses in Denham, they would see six constructed.
"We'll be looking at more GROH housing if we can get the government funding," she said.
"We were way behind the eight ball.
"That should open up a great chunk of more rentals for people wanting to come up here."
Another challenge for the shire was being able to get builders to come and stay.
"Builders are pretty short on the ground. Tradies are so hard to keep," Cr Cowell said.
And with tourism the biggest industry for the area, the shire had no plans to crack down on holiday home rentals.
"I'd say probably at least half, maybe a bit more of the people actually own their own property here," Cr Cowell said.
"There are the elements of wanting to move here when they retire, so they're building and renting out in the meantime.
"We're more than happy to carry on in that regard because we don't really have any other major industries."
Ms Hook said for many locals, the balancing act had not been reached.
"There are a lot of houses that are accommodation for tourists," she said.
"It would be good if some of them were more for people who were living here, like families that need accommodation if they're working here."
Long-time resident Gloria Whitby also just moved into one of the new social houses.
"[It's] a little sense of community with all the people in the same place, same phase of life," she said.
Ms Whitby wanted to stay in Shark Bay for the rest of her life but wanted to see the education shortages addressed so her family could stay as well.
"That's the only thing I'd like to see. A nice big high school here," she said.
Her granddaughter, Brittany, seriously considered leaving the area because she could not get a rental and she wanted her children to access better education.
"We did have to almost leave town because it took us a while to get a rental," Brittany said.