ABC News, 15 December 2022:
Byron Bay attracts tourists from across the world, but short-term holiday rentals have been blamed for exacerbating the housing crisis.(ABC News: Bridget Judd)
The Byron Shire Council has been blindsided by an 11th-hour decision by the NSW government which will stall controversial plans for a 90-day cap on short-term holiday letting in parts of the shire.
The state government announced yesterday it had instructed the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) to hold a public hearing on the issue.
The Byron Shire Council today voted in support of the policy after working on the proposal and consultation for three years.
However, the change will now need to be approved by the state government once it receives advice from the IPC.
Mayor Michael Lyon said it was a disappointing change of direction.
"In June we were told we were trusted with the ability to run a fair consultation," he said.
"That's the way it should be. Local government is the closest to its community and it should be trusted to make decisions which affect it."
The council hoped a 90-day cap would alleviate the area's housing crisis by encouraging property investors to place their vacant properties back in the long-term rental market.
Cr Lyon said he would try to remain positive and trust the IPC to look carefully at the very complex issue.
"This is a desperately needed reform for our community," he said.
"We've put our best step forward and just have to trust that the right decision will be made by that IPC."
'Sorry, game over'
Greens Ballina MP Tamara Smith made a scathing criticism of the state government's decision to intervene at the last minute.
"It is an absolute disrespect to our community after all we've gone through with the floods and the acute housing crisis," she said.
Ms Smith said the state government had caved to pressure from international corporations at the expense of local government and communities.
"Council has jumped through every hoop that the planning department has said they had to go through," she said.
"We're about to find out the result … and the minister has said, 'sorry, game over'."…..
Read the full article here.
No comments:
Post a Comment