Mr Brebner said work prospects brought itinerant workers to the country but suitable accommodation was often a problem.

“There is a lot of seasonal employment in the country and a lot tend to come out [but] accommodation is a problem and it’s not unique [to] Dubbo,” he said.

It’s “a national issue that needs to be continually looked at” but mostly an oversupply of workers was the source of the problem, he said.

However, Rural Management Solutions (RMS) manager Kerry Noye turned 15 backpackers away from available work this week because he “had nowhere to put them” after the Muller Street debacle.

Mr Brebner wouldn’t comment on that particular situation but said Dubbo was an area that needed itinerant workers and “doing a deal with local caravan parks could have been a solution to keep people here.”

“Organise with the caravan park to put in a number and get a better deal,” he said.

“A lot of backpackers certainly come to Australia with limited funds [but] caravan parks for tenting are pretty reasonable.

“Planning is the essence in all of this.

“Most of my Workabout Australians are grey nomads and quite a lot have come here [but] most have their own caravans and stay at caravan parks.”

Mr Brebner said that full board was sometimes provided to working backpackers but they needed plans in place on which they could fall back on.

“Quite a few employers of backpackers allow them to camp on their property, but most are on farms.”

Mr Brebner said it was unlikely that the Muller Street situation would taint Dubbo’s image among backpackers.

“Certainly they may tell others and it might have a ripple effect, but when the work is right and the pay is right people will take [the job],” he said.

Caravan parks contacted by the Daily Liberal refused comment.