Coordinated by the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre (MNC)the MHWG is made up of local housing advocates who investigate options for affordable housing in the face of huge rent increases and basic expenses.

coordinator, Ritva Vilppola, said. Ms Vilppola said other laws including limiting one permit per property regardless of property size also needed to be addressed. Affordable housing group advocates suggest that while there may be many rural property owners in the hinterland willing and able to provide land to help accommodate people, this issue was limiting viable alternatives.

Other council’s have already addressed this issue including the Fraser Coast Council, which now allows family and friends to live in a caravan or tiny home on wheels for up six months in a 12-month period (subject to conditions). Mount Alexander Shire in Victoria were proposing that alternative housing options be permitted for an indefinite period of time with no permit limit. While the Shire of

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Esperance had already adopted a Tiny Houses Local Planning Policy – the first council in Australia to recognise tiny homes as a permanent housing choice.

“Other Councils have stepped up and have engaged or in the midst of engaging their local communities on changing their laws. This is something we encourage the Sunshine Coast Council to also do,” said Ms Vilppola.

The MHWG have leveraged their networks to encourage citizen participation throughout the Sunshine Coast. Concerned community members are being urged to send letters to their local councillor and SCC CEO to go beyond the temporary removal of permit fees and suspend the limiting 28-day local law as an immediate action in response to the current Sunshine Coast housing crisis.

The group has been actively looking at a range of short, mid and long-term solutions to alleviate some of the issues of housing stress and homelessness affecting our region.

Members have put forward a detailed report to council, New Planning Scheme Consultation, based on examples many people had experienced in the area.

Currently MHWG is developing a proposal in response to the State Housing Summit and has offered community-led insights around ‘Hot Planning Topics’ such as affordable living and housing affordability, secondary dwellings and short-term accommodation.

MHWG is also calling for significant changes to current local laws and future land use and developments in Maleny and surrounding Blackall Range region (Jinibara and Gubbi Gubbi Country). To find out more visit www.malenync.org.au/ about/housing-project or email housing@malenync.org.au