Source : Perth Now news
The State’s housing crisis has led to limits being put on short-term rentals in one of WA’s top tourism towns.
Under the Shire of Murray’s unhosted short-term rental accommodation local planning policy, which was adopted unanimously by the council at its June 18 meeting, small unhosted STRAs will no longer need its approval — except in Dwellingup, where they are also now limited to the town centre.
The new policy has already affected one applicant who wanted to use their property for STRA.
Dwellingup has consistently been recognised as one of WA’s best tourism destinations and is heavily marketed as such.
Attractions include the Dwellingup Adventure Trails, Lane Pool Reserve, Forest Discovery Centre and Dwaarlindjirraap Bridge.
But a shire report said the amount of housing that was being put up for STRA in the town had become a critical concern.
More than half of the respondents to a survey in the town and surrounding areas said the current level of unhosted STRA was too high.
It was seen as reducing the amount of homes available to rent or buy, in turn threatening the local primary school’s viability.
“The survey demonstrated community support for tourism but clear opposition to continued unrestricted growth of unhosted STRA where it undermines permanent housing, school viability, workforce stability and community cohesion,” a report to the council said.
“The responses favour a housing first, precautionary planning approach that protects Dwellingup as a sustainable, lived-in community, while supporting appropriate, well managed tourism accommodation.
“Proposals will be required to clearly demonstrate that they do not result in a reduction in the availability of permanent residential accommodation.”
The policy was advertised for comment for 21 days. No submissions were received.
The policy has already affected one prospective STRA operator, whose application for approval was considered at the same meeting.
Shane Crothers had sought permission to use a house on Marginata Crescent for unhosted short-term rental accommodation for up to six guests for four to five years.
The council unanimously rejected it because it went against the new policy, would establish an “undesirable” precedent and reduce the amount of permanent housing available that could help increase Dwellingup’s population.
Cr Nicole Willis said the council had a responsibility to keep the town alive as more than just a holiday destination.
“Permanent residents create volunteers, school attendees, and weekday value to the local businesses, all of which are dwindling away in Dwellingup in part due to STRAs and also lack of land release,” she said.
“The community is valuing what little residents they have left there and that has formed my decision today.”
The Marginata Crescent proposal was also advertised for 21 days. It received 11 submissions, eight of which were objections.
In a response to the submissions, the applicants said they were not “flippers” or investors and would eventually move there to live.
“The structural problem facing the town is bigger than just one home and the real need is for a new subdivision annexed on to the side of the town and planned in such a way that it caters to a range of development uses, including affordable housing,” they said.
A report to the council said Dwellingup’s population of about 700 put it on the lower margin of viability for maintaining essential community infrastructure, services and volunteer capacity.
“In settlements of this scale, relatively small changes in population can have disproportionate and compounding effects,” it said.
”Dwellingup’s permanent population is small and the retention of permanent housing stock is central to maintaining essential services, volunteer capacity, school viability and long-term settlement sustainability
“As population falls below a functional threshold, services become increasingly reliant on external subsidy or volunteer effort, both of which are finite.
“In Dwellingup’s isolated context, the erosion of local services disproportionately affects children, older residents and those without access to private vehicles, raising broader equity considerations.”
The report said while there would be some local economic benefit from having a STRA, there were broader economic implications.
