BYRON HOLIDAY LETTINGS IN LIMBO

Byron Holiday-Letting in Limbo as NSW Government recalls 90-Day Annual Cap

By MARGARET DEKKER

The Perrottet Government has declared Byron Shire Council’s proposed policy to create a 90-day annual cap on non-hosted Short Term Rental Accommodation in the Byron Shire null and void, on the very eve Council was due to vote on the controversial new policy.

Three years of diffcult work by Byron local government now appears in vain as Independent Planning Commission NSW takes over, commencing its own review into Byron Shire Council’s proposed and unprecedented 90-day annual cap (down from 180-days) on non-hosted STRA, reporting back to NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts for a determination.

The State Government’s reclaiming authority on Byron’s STRA controls is a slap in the face for Council and its effort to counter the Shire’s rising housing affordability and homelessness crises.

The IRP will start by reviewing alreadyexisting public submissions – and vast ranging views – on the proposed and highly controversial cap.

“In light of the 1,500 pieces of feedback received by the Council on the proposal through formal submissions, an online survey and a petition, and the potentially signifcant economic impacts such a change could have on local businesses, the Government has asked the IPC to not only advise on the proposal but also whether the Government should allow the proposed changes to go forward,” Marcus Ray, Deputy Secretary NSW Department of Planning and Environment said.

The IPC Panel “will help inform the future of short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in Byron Shire” after exploring: • The status of housing and rental affordability and availability in the LGA, and recommendations to improve them; • The economic contribution of the STRA industry and any potential implications of the proposal; and • Whether it recommends the proposal should be fnalised, with or without any amendments, or whether any further information may be required to make a decision.

The State Government’s IRP intervention is a particular blow to Byron Mayor Cr Michael Lyon, who’s long campaigned for the proposed 90-day annual cap on nonhosted STRA in his shire.

“The 90-day cap was expected to arrest the trend of long-term lets turning into short-term lets and make the overall investment equation less attractive,” Michael Lyon, Byron Shire Mayor, previously told The Northern Rivers Times.

“I am surprised and disappointed because we have been working towards this for several years, and our proposal to cap areas for STRA to 90 days in parts of the Byron Shire is a modest one, seeking balance, in the best interests of our community,” he said.

Meanwhile, months of ‘talk’ about Byron’s potential cap on holidayletting may already have started having the desired effect with 104 permanent rentals listed for long-term lease in ‘Byron Bay Greater Region’ last weekend alone (source: realestate. com.au)

Cr Michael Lyon hopes the IPC’s review will eventually fnd in favour of Council’s position to limit the number of days/ nights local housing stock can dedicate to Short Term or holiday letting.

For Byron Shire’s huge Accommodation and Services sector, the State’s eleventh-hour reprieve is a godsend (and masterstroke by powerful industry lobbyists, both domestically and internationally.)

Byron Deserves Better - a coalition of ratepayers, private accommodation providers and business owners born from the issue – had described the 90-night annual cap on most STRAs in the Shire as ‘sounding the death knell’ on the lucrative industry, with annual occupancy rates set to plummet 75% with an ensuing $267m hit to the local economy.

“The business community IS the community of Byron Shire. It’s vital we stand up and protect the future of the community and call out this deeply fawed, short-sighted policy,” Sarah Workman, spokesperson for Byron Deserves Better has said.

As part of the review process, the IPC will host a public hearing to allow the community and industry to express their views about the proposal.

“This will guarantee independent consideration of such an important proposal,” Marcus Ray, Deputy Secretary NSW Department of Planning and Environment said.

“We acknowledge this may disappoint Council, but non-hosted STRA in Byron Shire is a complex and contentious matter. There’s been conficting advice to date on what impact this proposal would have on tourism in the region and whether it would have a positive impact on the long-term rental market.

“Given the potential impacts on the local economy, it’s critical all opportunities to improve housing and rental affordability and availability have been explored, and the Government receives independent advice to determine whether the proposal should proceed or not,” he added.

The date of the IPC public hearing – presumably to be held in Byron Shire - is yet to be announced.

For more information visit www.ipcn.nsw.gov. au/projects/2022/12/ byron-shire-short-termrental-pp

Photo: Byronbay.com

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