Byron Shire Council’s amendments to NSW State regulations around short-term rental accommodation (STRA) are now before the public until October 31.
Areas that are flagged to be non-hosted holiday letting for 365 days include parts of Byron Bay, Suffolk Park and Brunswick Heads.
In Byron Bay, Clarkes foreshore, Wategos, Belongil, and Shirley Street beachside are flagged. In Suffolk Park, most of the beachfront blocks and the second block back from beach are identified, while in Brunswick Heads, all homes and commercial buildings east of the old highway are flagged.
Across the rest of the Shire, the limit for non-hosted STRA will be a maximum of 90 days per year.
Should the Planning Department agree to the proposal, Council staff say, ‘there will be a 12-month transition period for operators to honour existing bookings’.
Council staff argue that, ‘There is robust evidence to demonstrate the local housing market is experiencing market failure. Therefore, a more significant policy response is required. [Page 11 of the planning proposal]’.
‘The Byron LGA is estimated to have the highest concentration of STRA properties of any LGA in NSW’.
As part of the process, the NSW Planning Department commissioned Urbis to undertake an economic impact assessment (EIA).
In reply, Council sought an expert review of the EIA by Dr Peter Phibbs, which found ‘the authors have attempted to use the findings of the EIA as a decision-making tool’.
From page 14 of the planning proposal, staff wrote, ‘An important issue raised in the Peer Review is that the EIA did not include much analysis of the positive economic effects of additional permanent rental housing, compared to existing levels’.
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