Fraser Coast Regional Council votes for caravan fix to help rental crisis
A Queensland council has voted to allow friends and family to occupy caravans in backyards as one solution to the dire rental crisis facing the region.
Fraser Coast
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A critical shortage of rental properties has led to a council voting on new local laws which will allow people to live in a caravan on a property for up to six months in a 12-month period.
The Fraser Coast Regional Council voted to adopt the policy at its January meeting.
“These changes will allow people to provide free temporary accommodation to family and friends who cannot find rental accommodation,” Cr Jade Wellings said.
“There is a critical shortage of rental accommodation across the country, and this is one way council can help.
“While housing is primarily a State Government responsibility, our community is looking to us as local leaders to do something in this space.
“This proposal certainly won’t be a silver bullet, but it may help take some pressure off and help people to take care of their loved ones in their time of need.”
The amendments include regulations to safeguard the amenity of neighbours, such as that the caravan is only for temporary use as a place of residence, and it is not to be used for more than six months in a 12-month period.
Residents will have to complete a registration form to ensure they comply with the local law regulations and to alert Council that a caravan has been placed on a block.
“I think everyone recognises that there is a housing crises,” Ms Wellings said.
“No one knows how long it will last, and we hope that it will only be a short time.
“The community have been crying out for government to do something about this for a long time now.
“The State Government are primarily responsible for housing, but all levels of government have opportunities to contribute to this issue and a responsibility to do what they can reasonably do.
“This is one small way that our council can help.
“By making the local laws around the use of caravans as temporary accommodation a little softer, we are effectively allowing community to help community.
“It empowers people within our community to be able to help their family and friends in their time of need.
“I’ve heard stories of families and children sleeping on the grandparents dining floor on a mattress, I’ve seen the children come out of tents on the Esplanade when I go for a run in the mornings.
“I know that many of the displaced are employed in professional jobs with a good rental history, but there is simply such a shortage that there are long waits for people to find homes.
“People need temporary options to keep them safe and dry and allow them to keep their dignity while they search for more permanent accommodation,” she said.
The new requirements do not override existing regulations which allow residents to let friends and family visiting on holidays to stay for four weeks in a caravan in their backyard.
“These changes are aimed at helping people who are homeless and do change regulations governing holiday makers,” Cr Wellings said.
Other requirements of the new local law include that the permanent residence on the property also must be permanently occupied at the same time.
There are provisions in the local laws to ensure that greywater and sanitation are managed.
Property owners cannot charge rent or ask for payment.
There are also set back provisions that apply.
“We made the change to let our community help out family and friends in their time of need, while they are in-between more permanent accommodation,” Cr Wellings said.
The arrangement will last until December 31, 2027 and then revert to the previous version of the local laws, unless extended, or repealed earlier.
Any extension or proposal to repeal will also require community feedback.
The changes to Fraser Coast Regional Council’s Local Laws come after community consultation and feedback and consultation with the Queensland Government.
The process also included assessing the proposed changes against the National Competition Policy Guidelines on anti-competitive provisions in local laws and consultation with multiple government departments.
“Since this was first discussed at Council early last year, there has been a lot of feedback and support from residents which helped shape the draft changes, while a Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre petition supporting the changes gathered more than 5,000 signatures,” Cr Wellings said.
“We anticipate that we can have the changes gazetted by next Friday so the new local laws and subordinate local laws will come into effect then.”
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