In the latest development on Council's plans to regulate Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) in Byron Shire, staff and Councillors are this week reviewing a recent letter from the NSW Department of Planning.
The letter is in response to communication from Council, in relation to the recommendations from the NSW Independent Planning Commission on STRA.
"In their letter, the NSW Department of Planning said it thought that Council was finding it challenging to identify ways to arrest the scale of the housing crisis facing the region and we will be reassuring them this week that - on the contrary - we have identified many different ways and pathways to deliver the housing required," Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon said.
"We are 100 percent committed to meeting the delivery of housing in the Byron Shire," the Mayor said.
"It goes without saying that we can't do it on our own and we need the support and help of the NSW Government and we look forward to working closely with the Department of Planning on unlocking barriers and achieving the housing goals we're all aligned to achieve," he said.
The North Coast Regional Plan (NCRP) sets a target of 4,522 dwellings to be delivered in the Byron Shire over the next 20 years.
"The Department of Planning has a right, and indeed a responsibility, to ensure that Local Governments hit their housing targets, especially in light of the housing crisis and the recent impacts of the natural disasters," the Mayor said.
"What we will seek to do on Thursday at our Council meeting is make it clear to the Department, in no uncertain terms, that we will hit our targets and that we are committed to the delivery of housing in our community.
"I think there has been some misconceptions around Byron Shire Council due to a reputation in the past for being anti-development. I believe our community is accepting of the need for more housing, but it is important that we go on this journey together over the coming months as we finalise the residential strategy, and that all areas of the Shire do their part in the provision of housing," he said.
Council staff have submitted a late report on this matter to the 10 August Council (Planning) Meeting.
