Duncan Dey, Greens candidate for mayor 2021–24
I wish to correct the record for those who listened to Thursday’s Council meeting. Previous councils took many holiday-let operators to court, under Greens Mayor Jan Barham (2004–12). Most of those cases would have been successful had the HL operators not offered to settle (ie agreed to Council’s demands).
The settlements seemed orchestrated so that a negative court finding against HL would never be recorded. Several were recorded in other jurisdictions, where brave councils had pursued offenders.
As soon as it was elected, the Council of 2012–16 resolved to cease such court cases including one that was about to reach completion and achieve a ruling against HL. Simon and I were on that Council and were sadly disappointed.
Councils since 2012 have been court shy. This has meant that offenders are not admonished and regulations are not enforced. Slack boundaries lead to misbehaviour, don’t they?
The Greens don’t support the shocking impacts of holiday-lets on our rents, land prices, and residential amenity. HL offends Greens principles, especially that of social and economic justice.