A new purpose-built backpacker resort will deliver a clever solution to the region’s rental crisis, offering beds to workers of a key industry.
Up to 36 hospitality workers in Noosa will soon call Bounce Noosa home, as the 122-bed facility prepares to open its doors.
The resort-style hostel facility, on Mary Street in Noosaville, was approved by Noosa Council in November 2018.
With the worsening rental crisis, property owner Mark Baldwin has decided to open a section of the resort to hospitality workers for $200 per week.
“Hospitality workers are an integral part of Noosa’s hospitality and tourism offering,” Mr Baldwin said.
“(We) need to seize this moment to come together and build on our experience and resilience to ensure the sustainable and inclusive recovery of our important tourism sector.
“With the current absence of international travellers, we will have enough beds available to get us through the busy season to support 36 key hospitality workers with a place to call home.”
It comes as Noosa councillors recently ordered an urgent report seeking solutions to the region’s “unheralded” housing crisis, which has been labelled the worst in its history.
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The request for a detailed, independent data-driven analysis on potential short, medium and long-term solutions won unanimous support.
Local builders Buil4U Sunshine Coast, who did recent refurbishments at Sofitel Noosa and Peregian Beach Hotel, began construction of Bounce Noosa in April 2020.
With a rattan-style beach theme, the hostel will offer deluxe private suite (pictured), queen room and shared dorm-style accommodation options, communal spaces and a resort-style pool.
Tourism Noosa’s Juanita Terry-Bloomfield said Mr Baldwin had been working closing with the local industry body to help deliver this solution.
“The owner wanted to do something nice for the community and works closely with Tourism Noosa and understands the situation in Noosa with hospitality workers,” Ms Terry-Bloomfield said.
“Hospitality workers will love that social atmosphere as well.
She said so far there had been strong expressions of interest and the offering would work on a “first in best fit” basis.
“There have been quite a few expressions of interested. It’s sort of a first in, best fit kind of basis.
“The owner of the Sofitel has come around and inspected it for his staff, so there is a bit of interest.”
For booking enquiries, contact noosa@staybounce.com.
