Byron Shire Council’s further plans for housing:

Developing a Council-owned carpark in Mullumbimby to provide 32 affordable one and two-bedroom units and studios.

More information on Byron Shire Council’s Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme can be found at www. byron.nsw.gov.au/ Home

BY SARAH WATERS

Byron Shire Council has made headway on its plans to cap holiday accommodation and it is due to present it proposal to the NSW State Government.

In April, the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) released its report on its inquiry into Short Rental Accommodation (STRA) in the Byron Shire with 12 key recommendations. One extraordinary recommendation was to only allow landlords to let their properties for 60 days a year in a bid to free up more long-term rentals.

Another recommendation was a streamlined development consent process for people to apply for approval to rent their non-hosted STRA or holiday accommodation for more than 60 days a year.

Any requests to extend it past 60 days could be rejected by the council.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said he had written to NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully outlining how Council would implement the recommendations in the IPC report.

“This includes the development of a planning pathway for people who wish to holiday let their properties,” Mr Lyon said.

“We have also highlighted our strong support for the IPC recommendation regarding Council being able to collect an annual registration fee from STRA owners.

“This is essential for proper management of the scheme, including compliance, but it is also necessary to deal with the infrastructure repair burden that high visitation places on our Shire.

“We will also be investing in the resources required to ensure development applications for non-hosted STRA are processed efficiently,” he said.

Mr Lyon said Council were looking at ‘compliance and enforcement arrangements’ to give confidence to Minister Scully and the community, of its ability to monitor non-hosted STRA in the Shire.

“I expect that the NSW Government will approve the planning proposal that will allow us to put in place a local regulatory framework to support a 60-day cap on unhosted STRA in the Byron Shire.

“Key to our negotiations with the Government is demonstrating that we, as a Council, are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to deliver lasting solutions to the housing crisis, with regulation of STRA just one piece of the jigsaw,” he said.

In December last year, then Planning Minister Anthony

Roberts, requested the IPC provided advice on short-term holiday accommodation, rental affordability and availability issues in the Byron Shire.

The request was made after the former state government intervened on Council’s plans to adopt a 90-day cap on holiday rentals such as Airbnb in specific parts of the Shire only.

IPC commissioners recommended a 60-day cap on non-hosted holiday letting across the Byron Shire, instead of Council’s 90-day proposal.

The full IPC advice report can be found at: www.ipcn.nsw. gov.au/cases/2022/12/ byron-shire-short-termrental-pp