Byron Shire Council is looking forward to presenting its case to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) hearing into its Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) Planning Proposal.
Council's planning proposal seeks to limit unhosted STRA in the majority of the shire to 90 days.
The IPC will consult with key stakeholder groups on Friday, 17 February and the public hearing will be held at the Byron Community Centre from 21 to 23 February.
Mayor Michael Lyon said the hearing is an opportunity for Council, the community, and stakeholders to speak directly to the IPC Commissioners about the impact of short-term rental accommodation on the Shire.
"Councils and communities around NSW and Australia are watching this with a lot of interest because the problems in the Byron Shire are now playing out in their towns as well," Mayor Lyon said.
"Like us, they want a measure of control to ensure that the broader housing needs of their communities are met, so that key workers have places to live.
"The IPC hearing gives us the opportunity to make our case with strong statistical and research-based evidence to support our arguments.
"Some claims presented by groups opposed to Council's STRA Planning Proposal have argued that it will result in $265 million of lost economic activity and some 1,448 jobs and this is simply not true," Mayor Lyon said.
"Actually, it has been discovered that this was an estimate of the entire contribution of all STRA in the Byron Shire to the tourist economy.
"It is clear from the research that Council's proposal will have a limited impact on the overall availability of tourist accommodation.
"When Council meets with the IPC Commissioners, we will debunk these arguments and importantly, we will provide strong evidence to support our case for regulation.
"For example, the planning proposal will only have an impact on unhosted STRA, by reducing the cap from 180-days to 90-days in the majority of residential areas but it will increase the caps in some precincts to 365-days," Mayor Lyon said.
This will concentrate visitation into these precincts and also into traditional, hotel-style accommodation which is only ever at capacity at the busiest times of the year.
The data also shows that permanent residents spend roughly the same per day in the local economy as a tourist.
Apart from the fact that a resident will occupy a dwelling more days of the year than if it is used for tourism purposes, the value of their spend is far more and it supports all sectors of the economy and society, from schools to health care and sporting and recreation facilities.
"While I was initially disappointed when the NSW Planning Minister announced the IPC hearing, it is an opportunity for the IPC to hear from our community, about the impact of STRA on their lives and that's more powerful than reading a written submission," Mayor Lyon said.
"Make no mistake – the community is at the core of what we, as a Council, represent.
"We are simply seeking balance and this proposal is very modest, will not overly impact the tourist sector but will benefit greatly the broader economy and the Byron Shire community," Mayor Lyon said.
Information on the STRA Planning Proposal is on Council's website.
Information about making a submission or the public hearing is on the IPC website.
