In the recent Whitsunday Regional Council ordinary meeting, a motion to delegate authority of short-term accommodation applications, residing in low, low-medium, and rural residential zones from council to the Chief Executive Officer was refused.
According to Councillor Clay Bauman, who proposed this notice of motion, this is a necessary, temporary interim measure, until a local law can be put into effect that would address short-term accommodation.
“We are in a transitional stage,” he explained in the meeting.
“We are currently between guidelines that differ from our planning scheme.”
Since the council started taking upon short-term accommodation change of use applications, over 200 applications have been received, with 15 currently under assignment as well.
“We did jump the gun years ago,” Councillor Michelle Wright said.
“We are underway with the local law coming into effect. I will support this when the local law comes into effect.”
Mayor Julie Hall said, “The extra cost and the extra resources that this will put on council, we would be better to use that for the planning scheme.”
The motion was defeated, meaning applications for change of use short-term accommodation applications will continue to be reviewed by council.
One such short-term accommodation application, for a property in Jubilee Pocket, was later refused in the meeting, based on the property’s elevation and outlook on neighbouring properties.
“With short-term accommodation, people come through at odd hours. Regularly, people do as you expect on holiday,” said Councillor Bauman.
“That's what I don’t like to see, from my back door, and that’s not what permanent residents want to see from their backdoor.”
Councillor Jan Clifford, who was in favour of the motion, said, “I will always stick up for residents, ratepayers, and their comforts.”
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