2021-12-13 GC Agenda - Item 8 -Attachment 1 - Housing Needs Assessment

16.1.2           Permanent residents
Many residents, particularly those in low density detached housing neighbourhoods vehemently
objected to short-term accommodation uses in residential zones. They also identified the impacts
short stay properties were having on their residential amenity including quality of life and health and
wellbeing. Negative impacts include excessive noise and disturbance, unacceptable guest
behaviour, overflow carparking and garbage and more broadly the loss of community and sense of
security and safety.
This conflict of interest has escalated over the last decade with the rise in on-line booking platforms,
shift in the accommodation preferences and expectations of holiday makers and affordability of larger
houses for large families or groups.
         The NSW Government has introduced a new state-wide planning policy for Short-term Rental
         Accommodation in NSW. In introducing the policy, the government acknowledged the unique
         complexities of short-term rental accommodation in Byron Shire and therefore has granted a
         longer lead in time so that provisions do not commence until end of January 2022 (compared
         to 1 November for the balance of the State).
         Byron Shire Council proposes to finalise its planning proposal lodged in response to a
         Ministerial Direction which seeks to limit non-hosted short-term rental accommodation to 90
         days in its Shire.


         The City of Hobart is considering taking steps to amend its planning scheme to limit the
         number of new permits to convert entire homes to short-stay visitor accommodation. They
         have expressed concern over the number of short stay listings, with at least a third of these
         not being the host’s primary residence. The Council has found housing affordability in Hobart
         is reaching crisis point and Hobart had lost around 12% of its long-term rental properties to
         visitor accommodation in just a couple of years.
         The city council is also advocating to Tasmania’s Minister for Planning to issue a planning
         directive that immediately prohibits new permits for entire home short stay accommodation
         within the Hobart Local Government Area and for state-wide regulations, similar to those in
         NSW, that enable councils to make decisions about properties within their local government
         area.
16.1.3           Noosa Plan 2020 response to short-term accommodation
Low Density Residential zone
In response to the lack of past regulation of short-term visitor accommodation in residential zones,
Noosa Plan 2020 identifies short-term accommodation as an inconsistent use in the Low Density
Residential zone.
Notwithstanding this, it is recognised there are properties in the Low Density Residential zone that
may have existing lawful use rights to continue short-term accommodation. In addition, further
properties have been approved for short-term accommodation under the superseded planning
scheme, being Noosa Plan 2006.
Short-term accommodation is only acceptable development in the Low Density Residential zone if:
•     in the applicant's principal place of residence;
•     the letting of only one dwelling on site;
•     occupied by short-term guests on no more than 4 occurrences in any calendar year; and
•     occupied by short-term guests for a total of no more than 60 nights in any calendar year.
This enables local residents to let their own home occasionally when they vacate it.
The majority of these detached houses used for short-term accommodation are in sought-after
locations such as water front properties or those in close proximity to the beach or river, as well as
in more remote areas like Teewah and Boreen Point. Some argument has been made these houses


Noosa Housing Needs Assessment 2021                                                           Page 119