When Ali Murray moved to the outback Queensland town of Longreach from New South Wales, finding a place to live was the least of her concerns.
The university worker was promised an easy-going lifestyle of wide-open spaces, a short drive to work and affordable rent.
Instead, she and her husband faced such a shortage of housing options they were forced to move on to a remote cattle station 120 kilometres away.
"There was only one unit to rent when we moved up here, so we put a notice on Facebook, and this house came up," Ms Murray said.
The farmhouse Ms Murray lives in is only accessible by dirt road, meaning every time it rains, she is cut off.
Her daily commute to and from work takes three hours.
"We have to keep a close eye on the rain, and if it looks like [we will get bogged], then we have to find accommodation in town, or we just stay put," she said.
Faced with dwindling populations, western Queensland councils are on a mission to attract more workers to the outback.
But a dire shortage of housing stock, rising rental prices and a growing homelessness problem are threatening the growth of remote communities.
Ms Murray said the lack of housing made her think twice about moving to the bush.
"The impression I had was wide open spaces and plenty of room available. It's definitely not the case," she said.
Rental prices soar
Data published by the Everybody's Home Campaign last month indicated the average rent price has increased by 30 per cent, or $67 a week, in Winton and Longreach over the past year.
It's the second-largest increase in rent across the state, behind the Gold Coast.
There is no publicly available data on rental vacancies in western Queensland, but real estate agents say demand is high and availability is low.
"Rent prices are the highest they've been in the past six years that we've been at our agency," Longreach real estate agent Amanda Strong said.
Ms Strong said rising interest rates and insurance meant landlords were passing on the cost to tenants.
Ms Strong said the majority of properties were being leased before being advertised publicly.
"When we first came into the agency in 2017, there were 19 vacancies on our books," Ms Strong said.
"Currently, I have one advertised property.
"We're getting enquiries from people moving into town next year with, unfortunately, not a lot to offer them."
Growing homelessness problem
The housing shortage has also triggered a homelessness crisis, advocates say.
"From single mothers all the way to long-term Longreach residents, no one can get a rental," Colin Tidswell, homelessness case manager for Anglicare Central Queensland, said.
"I've got a couple living in their car, who you could class as key workers.
"They're toying with the idea of leaving town now because they can't find anywhere to rent."
Regional Queensland has experienced a 29 per cent spike in homelessness in the four years to July this year, according to the Australian Homelessness Monitor.
Mr Tidswell said homelessness was often overlooked in country towns.
"You tend to be more aware of homelessness when you're in the city because you can see people on the street," he said.
"Out here, it's people living in cars. It's couch surfing, it's people camping down at the river."
"It's hidden, but it still exists, and it's getting worse."
Lack of housing a 'handbrake' to growth
The housing shortage has become so acute an alliance of local councils has joined forces to address the shortfall.
The group recently submitted a draft pilot action plan for six councils to the Queensland government.
The Balonne Shire Mayor and chair of the South West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils, Samantha O'Toole, said the plans would assess the availability and demand for housing and provide possible solutions.
"The lack of housing has been a handbrake to councils over the past couple of years," Cr O'Toole said.
"It's restricting our ability to attract professionals to the west.
"These action plans will create a series of short, medium and long-term actions for communities."
Ms O'Toole said small towns were crying out for more investment, but a shortage of building materials and labour was stopping many in their tracks.
"We have land that is readily available, but infrastructure comes at a premium, and often councils aren't prepared or have the forward planning in order to invest in major infrastructure," she said.
Earlier this year, the federal government unveiled a target of building one million new houses over five years from 2024.
A report published last year found at least 1,480 new homes need to be built in western Queensland over the next three years to keep up with population growth.
Ms O'Toole said she hoped the federal government's scheme would focus on remote parts of the country.
"The challenges for rural and remote communities are so different for those in the city. Our problems need to be challenged differently," she said.
"We had an ambulance officer in St George that moved six times in 12 months and became homeless with three children because he couldn't find permanent accommodation.
"It's become an impediment to growth."
