Farmers spend millions in former FIFO camps to tackle staff and housing shortages

Farmers in Western Australia's horticulture industry have invested millions in repurposing accommodation formerly used by FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) workers to house staff in the farms amid current housing shortage.

Key points:Farmers are investing millions to house workers amid labor and housing shortagesFruitico says government may need to help small operatorsCBH says expectations for quality of accommodation are changing

Myalup-based Graham Rose, WA's largest broccolini producer, has spent $1.9 million renovating dongas and a commercial kitchen space to be used as on-farm accommodation for its workers.

When completed there will also be a fully functional laundry room and plenty of space to store food - the everything away from walk from the packing shed.

But Mr Rose said having accommodation on site wasn't just about being close to work - it was also about providing comfort for its employees, who hailed from Pacific Island countries. component="Figure" data- uri="coremedia://imageproxy/101389626">The resort has 40 private rooms, each with a bathroom, wardrobe and desk.(Provided)

"They can basically live and have their own little environment and probably feel more like family," he said.

"If you look at strangers developing countries coming into this region, then this is probably the best overseas aid you could ever give people, just because [the money] is going to the real people on the ground."

Roger Fahl says Fruitico has struggled to find and house workers. (ABC News: Jessica Hayes)

Fruitico invests $5 million

WA's largest table grape producer, Fruitico, has operations in the Peel and Kimberley regions and will soon expand to Gascoyne.

The company plans to invest $5m in building similar donga-style accommodation at one of its farms in Waroona.

The Manager General Roger Fahl told ABC Country Hour that the investment was a big call.

"We have to be able to have personnel somewhere and we want to house them in the area so that they are ient accessible to our farmers, but also to try to keep some of that money in the local district,” he said.

Mr. Fahl said it was not possible for the average small farm in the state to build this type of housing.

"There has to be some work with the government of the state in places, w...