Granny flat fee waiver mooted

REALISING there is a shortage of housing for students and the elderly, Lismore council wants to make it easier for homeowners to build granny flats.

REALISING there is a shortage of housing for students and the elderly, Lismore council wants to make it easier for homeowners to build granny flats.

Proposed changes to the Section 64 and 94 contribution fees mean that people building a second dwelling up to 60sq m, or 115sq m for a dual occupancy, would be waived fees of $4000-14,000.

At the moment the council charges an average of $7000 for each additional bedroom.

Lismore City Council's executive director of sustainable development Brent McAlister said it would help boost growth in the city and "generate alternative housing options that are sorely lacking in Lismore".

"We've got a lot of three to four bedroom houses and an aging population. People are wanting to get smaller units within the city centre area - to have a greater housing choice," he said.

"This will also create a secondary income stream for people wanting to rent a granny flat out to a student to supplement their income." Mr McAlister said Byron Shire Council had introduced a similar policy about two years ago and had a significant uptake and Ballina Shire Council had also introduced a similar policy.

Lismore council last year changed planning regulations to allow people in rural areas to build second dwellings, but Mr McAlister said the proposed changes now on public exhibition were about encouraging housing options close to town.

"This draft policy provides monetary incentives for two key priorities coming out of Imagine Lismore - encouraging CBD revitalisation... and providing greater housing choice."

The proposed changes are on the council's website and comments from the public are welcome until May 16.