‘Death traps’ for fruitpickers

SOUTHERN Downs Regional Council and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have begun a campaign for safer housing for Southern Downs fruitpickers.
According to recent Brisbane-based media reports the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) issuing notices or fines for non-complying backpacker accommodation across the state, an initiative welcomed by the SDRC.
Mayor Peter Blundell said a Brisbane paper report talked about “death traps” springing up in areas around Queensland including the Lockyer Valley, Bundaberg and Stanthorpe.
“People on the Southern Downs probably remember last year that council successfully prosecuted a Stanthorpe land owner for housing 74 seasonal workers in a large marquee,” he said.
“Council works very closely with QFES conducting inspections of properties across the Southern Downs.
“The good news is that there has been a marked improvement in accommodation for fruitpickers and backpackers however both council and QFES are still finding sub-standard accommodation and issuing warnings.
“This is a very serious issue – it’s frightening to think of the potential loss of life if backpackers or itinerant workers are housed in illegal accommodation.
“Both council and QFES are extremely concerned about safety, and we do not want a repeat of the Childers backpacker hostel fire where lives were lost in 2000.”
He said the input of backpackers and seasonal workers who picked our fruit and vegetables crops helped drive the local economy and the workers deserved safe comfortable accommodation.
“If the reputation of our region is tarnished because of overcrowded or unsafe accommodation for itinerant workers, this will have serious impacts for our farmers and consequently our local economy. We need to ensure that our region has appropriate and safe accommodation,” he said.
Council Planning Compliance officer Vicki Sawyer said during random inspections last financial year a number of rental properties that were being used for backpacker-style accommodation units were found to be non-compliant.
“In some cases, the accommodation was way below standard, to the point of being a health risk with overloaded septic tanks and crowded bedrooms with restricted exit pathways,” she said.
“Anyone wanting to rent short-term accommodation units to backpackers or fruit pickers must have planning approval, and for some properties this might require a change in building classification.
Anyone wanting more information about compliance issues with backpacker accommodation can call 1300 MY SDRC (1300 697 372) for more details.