TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL CALLS FOR MORE CONTROL OF SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION

LOCAL REAL ESTATE NEWS

Tweed Shire Council will ask the state government to grant it similar powers to neighbouring Byron Shire to help regulate short-term accommodation. 

At a Council meeting on Thursday 16 November, councillors voted 5-1 to support a motion which includes writing to NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully to grant control to council over short-term housing.

More than 150 residents signed a petition supporting the council to take action to address the impact of short-term accommodation on the local rental market. 

Tweed Shire Council Mayor Chris Cherry said the Council currently has no control over how much housing is provided for the community.

"People are not going to move over to the long-term rental market out of the goodness of their hearts," Mayor Cherry said. 

Councillor Nola Firth, who moved the motion, described the shortage of affordable rental accommodation in Tweed Shire as "severe". 

“Currently many people in our shire are desperately in need of a home and unable to find one. We need to urgently do what we can within our role as a local government to address this situation,” Cr Firth said. 

"Our neighbouring shire of Byron, which has a similar affordable housing and rental availability shortage, has recently been granted a 60-day cap on such short term accommodation. It is timely that Tweed Shire Council proceeds to request a similar opportunity to control our short term housing."

In September, Byron Shire Council was granted permission by the state government to tighten restrictions on short-term accommodation, resulting in a cap of 60 days per year which will take effect on 26 September 2024.

The state government has indicated it will launch a review into short-term rental accomodation by the end of the year.