Care to leak the accom/food costs for living on such an island? (wages too)
Err, Airlie Beach/Shute Harbour are towns on the mainland. Cheaper than Sydney by a country mile.
I dont know what the wages are, but if they arent having trouble retaining staff at Air Whitsunday, as it appears, then I guess the wages/quality of life/cost of living equation is favourable enough to keep people happy and staying there.
Not telling anyone how they have to run their business, just observing that being employed for 6 months at a time, followed by 6 months of unemployment, would be unattractive, so if that is the possible offer at an employer in Sydney, qualified pilots may look elsewhere when there are other opportunities out there offering a more stable career path. Maybe something needs to change to make the positions more appealing now 457 visas appear to be off the table.